Seed planted by student veteran grows into MCC's veteran resource center
When Navy veteran Paul Wheeler planted the seed to create a support group for student veterans at McHenry County College, he never imagined it would flourish into a valuable resource for veterans on campus a decade later.
McHenry County College's Student Veterans of America chapter was borne out of Wheeler's attempt to counter an anti-war message of another student group promoting peace on campus.
That group used the names of hundreds of local veterans who had been killed, placed alongside empty boots in the Crystal Lake college's commons area, to illustrate the human toll of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Student veterans didn't appreciate the way the message was delivered, said Wheeler, 36, of Crystal Lake, a Navy veteran of the Iraq War and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
"They hadn't reached out to any of the families of these (vets)," Wheeler said. "We felt that was abusing their legacy. Obviously, peace is something we should all strive for ... (but) what they were doing to promote that, it really upset the entire student veteran population at the school."
Wheeler took the lead in establishing MCC's Student Veterans Association in 2009 serving as president alongside another student, Army veteran Jenna Maravilles, who served as vice president.
"We didn't want to counter the message of peace. We just wanted to make sure we were represented and their sacrifice isn't lost," Wheeler said.
Twenty people showed up to the group's first meeting, but enthusiasm began to wane until a fresh influx of veterans arrived on campus the following semester.
What started as a small fraternity supporting veterans leaving military service, often suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or having trouble adjusting to civilian life, became a hub for veterans' resources and community volunteerism projects.
"We were working with other veterans organizations in the county with fundraisers for Honor Flights," Wheeler said.
After graduating from MCC in 2011 with a degree in criminal justice, Wheeler moved on to working as an engineer for Mitsubishi Corporation Machinery Systems, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Laser, in Elk Grove Village. He had hoped someone would carry the torch at MCC.
"I wasn't optimistic when I left," Wheeler said. "It went from a very small group and it morphed into this beautiful thing that is growing today and it's strong and doing good things for the community. I couldn't be happier."
Wheeler's legacy continues today through MCC's Student Veterans Resource Center, which expanded about four years ago through community donations. It caters to 236 veterans, out of about 7,000 students, providing various types of assistance, including financial aid advice, medical help, offering a friendly ear, and refreshment and study areas where veterans can relax.
"It's kind of a one-stop shop for vets at the school," Wheeler said. "It's just a cozy little spot where they can kind of get away from the rush of campus ... a space they can go to decompress."