Parkersburg, W.Va. (July 15, 2021) – Military Times has named WVU Parkersburg a “Best for Vets” career and technical college for the third year in a row. This time, the college earned the No. 7 ranking on the list.

More than 300 schools were considered, and Military Times evaluated schools’ programs, cost and services for military veterans and their families. The organization also measured data from the U.S. Department of Education and Veterans Affairs and Defense.

“As a retired Army Master Sergeant, I am thrilled to be a part of a team that is continually recognized for helping veterans. WVU Parkersburg is ‘Best for Vets’ due to the work and generosity of our many community partners,” said Darren Shearlock, WVU Parkersburg veterans advocate.

WVU Parkersburg’s partners in education, such as the Jan Dils Foundation, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Marine Corps League, provide student veterans scholarships, giving them greater opportunities to succeed academically.

“Completing college is not always an easy task, but fortunately, U.S. service members and veterans are used to completing difficult tasks,” said Shearlock. “If they can succeed in boot camp, overseas deployments and war, they can succeed in college. They only need the right tools and a little help.”

As a veterans advocate, Shearlock helps students manage college credit transfers, secure financing through the GI Bill and apply for VA benefits. Through community and Foundation funds, WVU Parkersburg also offers veteran-based scholarships to help students pay for tuition and fees.

The WVU Parkersburg’s Veterans Resource Center provides veteran students and families with the tools to achieve academic success and transition to civilian life. This includes offering a student-run Veterans Corps that organizes extracurricular activities for members and community events to honor patriotic holidays.

Find the “Best for Vets” rankings at colleges.militarytimes.com.

To learn more about WVU Parkersburg’s veteran resources, contact Darren Shearlock at darren.shearlock@wvup.edu or 304-424-8337.