Jack Hampsey joined the U.S. Air Force in 2001 and has seen much of the Middle East on his four tours of active duty – one tour each in Qatar and Kuwait and two in Iraq. He is one of more than 100 veterans attending GateWay Community College who is taking advantage of the GI Bill.
He was a civil engineer, stationed at Luke Air Force Base most of his career. In 2011 he came to GateWay after his family moved from Surprise, Ariz. to Phoenix.
“I heard good things about GateWay and decided to attend, and the opportunities I have here are beyond words,” said Hampsey, who moved back to Surprise recently.
Currently, Hampsey is pursuing an associate degree focused on social work, with plans to transfer to Arizona State University where he plans to earn his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in social work and one day be able to open a shelter for troubled youth.
The GI Bill has been an asset to his family, according to Hampsey, who is currently serving with the Air Force Reserves.
“After leaving active duty for the Reserves, the transition was extremely difficult,” said Hampsey. “The GI Bill not only paid for school, but sustained my family’s needs until I was able to find work.”
Students like Hampsey are one reason GateWay has been designated as a Military Friendly School for a third year in a row by G.I. Jobs, the premier magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The 2013 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members and veterans as students.
“We are honored to be on the list again this year and welcome our veterans,” said Dan Lufkin, dean of Enrollment Management.
GateWay provides veterans with academic and advising services, as well as a Veterans Club that provides a social group setting to help veterans adjust and become successful in civilian and college life.
“The veterans group at Gateway has been a tremendous help and encouragement in my acclimation to college,” said Hampsey. “Oftentimes, it was not easy to fit in or even talk to anyone because I felt I had no one to relate to. The Gateway veterans service group made me feel welcome and at ease about my transition from active duty to functioning in a civilian environment.”
Hampsey recognizes it’s not easy for veterans to return to civilian life, but he does offer some words of advice. “Whatever your endeavors may be, just remember, the road may be rough and the days long, but when you reach your goal, the achievement will be one of your finest.”
Now in its fourth year, the 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools ® was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 12,000 VA-approved schools nationwide. The survey results that comprise the 2013 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media. Each year schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country.