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New Center for Veterans at Keystone College

KEYSTONE COLLEGE — A ribbon cutting ceremony marked the dedication of a new veterans center at Keystone College in Wyoming County. The new center is named...

KEYSTONE COLLEGE -- A ribbon cutting ceremony marked the dedication of a new veterans center at Keystone College in Wyoming County.

The new center is named after Elmer R. Hawk, a World War II veteran who spent 18 months as a prisoner of war.

The 1948 Keystone graduate may be most well known for his help with building the family business Gertrude Hawk Chocolates in Dunmore.

His son and daughter-in-law are proud that Elmer's legacy as a businessman and veteran lives on at his alma mater.

"It's so appropriate, I think, to be able to come back and remember a piece of his life that he really never talked much about," Dave Hawk said.

"This house will be a reminder of what they gave to us and to our community. They kept us free in World War II," Ann Hawk said.

The new center is a place where military students past or present can relax and do homework.

After getting a tour of the new center, veterans attended a luncheon on campus.

Students on campus say they're grateful that Keystone College is continuing to support veterans.

"Having Alumni Hall here as the veterans center is better because we can grow our family more and get more involved with other veterans," Dylan Welch said.

"Most of all it helps being able to be around people who know exactly what it means to be a veteran and knows the struggles and the joys that come with that," Darren Glass said.

Keystone College has roughly 30 veterans who attend as students. Many have taken notice to the schools effort to support veterans.

"Veteran students are unique but they're still students so they need to be able to have a space where they can study as well as just relax with each other," Dr. David Coppola, president of Keystone College said.

"It's just nice that they keep doing it because some schools start it and never go through with it or just stay small. Each year we continue to grow with ours," Rebekah Hasselman said.

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