How the Veterans OASIS Supports Student Vets at CT State Community College Tunxis Campus

When military service ends, a new journey begins.

For many veterans, returning home means stepping into a chapter of life that often includes pursuing a college degree, preparing for a new career, and adjusting to life outside the military. While higher education creates exciting opportunities, the transition isn’t always easy.

Many student veterans arrive on campus carrying experiences that few of their classmates can fully understand. They may be balancing family responsibilities, navigating healthcare systems and veterans’ benefits, or simply trying to find their place in an environment that feels very different from the one they left behind.


At CT State Community College Tunxis Campus, the Veterans OASIS (Operation Academic Support for Incoming Service Members) exists to help make that transition a little easier. The Farmington Community Chest has proudly supported the Veterans OASIS with an annual donation because we recognize the important role it plays in the lives of local veterans. Many of the veterans who utilize the OASIS live in Farmington and surrounding communities, making it an important local resource for those who have served.


More than a resource center, the OASIS provides something that can be difficult to find after military service ends: community.


The Veterans OASIS offers a welcoming space where veterans can connect with others who share similar experiences. It’s a place to study, relax between classes, access resources, grab a snack, ask questions, or simply spend time with people who understand the unique challenges of military service and the transition back to civilian life. For some veterans, that sense of belonging can make all the difference.


“They come in here and they can breathe,” said Karen DeBari, coordinator of the Veterans OASIS. “That’s always been the goal. The OASIS gives student veterans a place where they immediately feel comfortable and understood. They’re surrounded by people with shared experiences, and they know they belong here. We have a wonderful space with a supportive community of faculty and administrators, and for a lot of our veterans, that has been key to their success as students.”


For student veteran Luka Dechant, that sense of community has become a central part of his college experience.


“The OASIS is really the hub of my college experience,” said Dechant. “It’s where I get my work done. As soon as I walk in, there’s no procrastination. I know what I need to do. It’s a comfortable place where everyone is working toward similar goals. Being surrounded by other veterans and students who are focused on succeeding creates an environment that motivates you to do well.”


Beyond providing a place to gather, the OASIS helps veterans navigate many of the practical challenges that come with returning to school. Staff can connect students with educational benefits, healthcare resources, counseling services, food assistance programs, and other support systems that help remove barriers to success.


Just as importantly, the OASIS provides opportunities for connection and camaraderie. Veterans can build friendships, share experiences, celebrate successes, and support one another through challenges. It is a place where they do not have to explain their background to feel understood. The impact of those relationships often extends far beyond graduation.

“They graduate and are welcome to come back. It’s a community. Once they leave here, they aren’t done,” said DeBari.


That lasting sense of connection is one of the reasons the Farmington Community Chest continues to support the program.


“At the Farmington Community Chest, we believe strong communities take care of one another,” said Chris Andrews, President of the Farmington Community Chest. “The Veterans OASIS provides veterans with connection, practical support, and a place where they can truly belong. Supporting those who have served our country is one of the most meaningful investments we can make in our community, and we are proud to stand behind this important program.”


Veterans have served our country, our communities, and our neighbors. Supporting programs like the Veterans OASIS is one way we can help ensure they have the resources, encouragement, and connections they need as they build their futures here at home.


The Veterans OASIS is more than a room on a college campus. It is a place where veterans can find resources, friendship, encouragement, and understanding. For the veterans who walk through its doors, it offers something invaluable: a place to belong. A place where they can be themselves. A place where they can breathe.


Thanks to the dedication of its staff, supporters, and the veterans themselves, that community continues to grow with every new student who finds a home there.

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Saving Lives - One Grant at a Time

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It seems like a stretch to say that the efforts of a small non-profit like the Farmington Community Chest can potentially save lives. But FCC’s grant to the Farmington Fire Department to purchase thermal imaging cameras proves that FCC’s capacity to potentially save lives is no exaggeration. The new thermal imaging cameras mean that town firefighters now have the latest technology to find fire victims, identify a fire’s hotspots/spread, and target firefighting efforts and resources quickly and effectively. “The thermal cameras are life-saving,” says Russ Nelson, Fire Chief of the East Farms Station. Because the thermal imaging cameras measure heat, they can find people in a completely dark room. Nelson calls the cameras an innovation that the department couldn’t secure through the town’s budget process. But, he says, now he and his firefighting colleagues can “thrive” with the new technology provided by the thermal imaging cameras. On April 8, 2019, FCC President Amy Palumbo presented the $13,300.00 check that funds cameras for each of the town stations. “We know these cameras are indispensable. They should give town residents a new sense of security in the event of a fire. We also hope town residents, businesses, and others will see the FCC grant for this technology as an impetus to add FCC to their list of charitable giving.” Fire officials agree. “This gift from FCC should be resonating with town residents. It’s outstanding that their firefighters now have it. And it’s outstanding that the Farmington Community Chest is here to support all of us,” says Chief Nelson.