Honoring Service, Building Futures: Veterans Find Purpose and Support at WCCD

For many veterans, the transition from military service to civilian life is a journey marked by reflection, resilience, and the search for new purpose. At Wallace Community College-Dothan (WCCD), that journey is supported every step of the way.

For Anthony Moran, service runs in the family. A third-generation soldier, Moran served in the Army from 2015 to 2019, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. His younger brother now serves in the National Guard.

After returning home, Moran earned his first degree at WCCD in Automotive Technology. When the physical demands of the automotive field became difficult, he returned to Wallace once again, this time to pursue an associate degree in Computer Information Sciences.

Moran says the support he received at Wallace, both academically and personally, was exactly what he needed. “Ms. Neosha Floyd (WCCD Veterans Affairs) is very enthusiastic about helping her veterans. The instructors here are compassionate. You can tell they love to teach. When it came time to start a new path, [Wallace] was a very easy sell.” Moran graduates in May.

After serving 15 years as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy, Dothan native David Wheat returned home ready to continue serving others, this time in the civilian healthcare field. Wheat initially enrolled at a four-year institution, but quickly realized the cost wasn’t sustainable.

At Wallace, he found exactly what he needed: affordability, flexibility, and a support system committed to helping students succeed. Wheat plans to complete WCCD’s Associate Degree Nursing program.

“The advisors and financial aid departments here are a great team,” he said. “It was a seamless process. My advisor, Kelly Osmond, has been incredibly understanding and helpful. My instructors are always willing to help.”

For Army veteran Rayshaunn Spencer, the decision to return to school was deeply personal. Spencer served from 1992 to 1999 in communications, stationed in Germany and Texas. In 2023, Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer, and the experience led her to apply for the Associate Degree Nursing program at Wallace, an opportunity she had been exploring while working as a medical assistant.

The same day she rang the bell to celebrate completing radiation treatment, she drove nearly two hours to campus to turn in her nursing program application—on the very last day to apply.

Like Moran and Wheat, Spencer says Wallace’s Veterans Affairs team made the transition easier than she ever expected. “Working with Ms. Neosha Floyd was awesome,” Spencer said. “There was nothing I had to worry about. She made sure every detail was handled.”

WCCD’s Veterans Affairs team provides individualized support to veteran students and eligible dependents. From navigating benefits and paperwork to academic advising and mentorship, WCCD ensures students never walk their educational journey alone.

Whether entering college for the first time, advancing a career, or beginning a new one, veteran students at Wallace find more than an education: they find community, purpose, and a path forward.

For more information about Veteran Affairs at Wallace Community College, visit www.wallace.edu/veterans.