For many military veterans, returning home is only the beginning of a new challenge. Figuring out college, benefits and civilian life can be just as overwhelming as leaving military service.
At Moraine Valley Community College, veterans don’t have to navigate that journey alone. The college’s commitment to helping former service members succeed has earned it recognition as a 2026-27 Top 10 Military Friendly Gold School, placing Moraine Valley among the nation’s top 10 community colleges for serving veterans.
The designation, awarded by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council, recognizes colleges that excel in areas including student retention, graduation rates, job placement and loan repayment, with a focus on student veterans.
For Cesar Ceron, Moraine Valley’s Veterans Services coordinator and an Army veteran, the honor reflects years of helping veterans find their footing after active duty.
“We are proud of the last few years that we’ve been recognized as a military friendly institute, and now we upped our ante to a top 10,” Ceron said. “We’re gratified that our veterans recognize the things we do in our programs to serve all our veterans at the college and in the community.”
The Veterans Services office assists students from the moment they begin considering college. Staff members help veterans enroll, certify state and federal education benefits and connect them with financial aid, academic advising, tutoring, counseling and other campus resources.
Ceron said many veterans walk through the door with uncertainty about what comes next.
“The first question many ask is what the first step is because they’re unsure of how to get started,” he said. “I hear, ‘I just got back from active duty. I don’t know what to do, but I really want to go to school.’ So, we sit down with them and explain what needs to be done.”
As a veteran himself, Ceron understands the transition and the comfort that comes from talking with someone who has been through it.
“They come to us and say, ‘Hey, I finally found someone that can speak the language, someone that I can relate to,'” he said. “We work with many departments, so if there’s a question or anything I won’t be able to answer, I go get the answer for them.”
Connor Rutherford of Oak Lawn knows that feeling firsthand.
“It can be confusing trying to navigate things on your own,” Rutherford said. “I go to the Veterans Resource Center for pretty much anything I have questions on concerning my GI Bill.”
He said the staff makes the process far less intimidating.
“Moraine Valley does an incredible job sitting down with veteran students, letting them know what the next steps are for what they need to do and then pretty much telling them not to worry because they’ll take care of everything else, and they do,” Rutherford said.
While the national recognition is something to celebrate, Ceron said the most meaningful reward comes from seeing veterans gain confidence as they settle into college life.
“The biggest outcome that I want for every veteran I meet is for them to feel comfortable and feel like they’re being taken care of,” he said.