University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus will open a new student veteran center for its roughly 180 undergraduates who served their country and now seek a college degree.

It’s a BFD for these proud men and women who, after several years in the military, often feel out of place on a college campus.

Seriously, think about it. You joined the military, survived basic training, probably did a tour overseas, maybe even dodged enemy fire. And now you’re sitting in an Intro to Psychology class with a bunch of rowdy freshman whose idea of sacrifice likely involves the shunning of Snapchat for Lent.

Terence Stone, a veteran student studying interdisciplinary social studies at USF Sarasota-Manatee. Photo by Dan Wagner

“It’s not their fault, but they have no frame of reference to understand our experiences,” said Terence Stone, a six-year Army veteran, served two tours in Iraq before leaving the military in 2008. He’s now a junior at USFSM studying interdisciplinary social science.

“Having somewhere we can go and be around fellow veterans who don’t judge us is going to be great,” he said.

Hooah.

The 625-square-foot center, tentatively called the USFSM Military and Veterans Success Center, is scheduled to open in mid-April inside the campus’ main building. It will feature a lounge, study area, computers, kitchenette, conference room and a small office for USFSM Veterans Services Administrator Todd Hughes.

Think of it like an exclusive clubhouse for our heroes. They can go there to study and hangout between classes. They’ll also be able to take advantage of an array of services: get help applying for military benefits, seek counseling, join social groups, hear guest speakers, and write resumes.

Todd Hughes, veteran services administrator at USF Sarasota-Manatee. Photo by Dan Wagner

“We really wanted a better way to serve our veteran students,” Hughes said. “The main USF campus in Tampa has a great veterans’ center, and USF St. Pete recently opened theirs. We’re the last USF campus to open one.”

FYI: The University of South Florida is among several hundred nationwide to have earned the honor of being named a “military friendly school” by Victoria Media, which publishes a list of such institutions every year.

But none of this would have been possible without the support of an anonymous benefactor who gifted the campus a $50,000 donation in December. Construction of the space started almost immediately thereafter.