Jeannette Wilson-Kirtley began her Army career in 2000. She served as an engineering officer in Afghanistan and Iraq before an illness forced her to leave active duty in 2012.
She was fortunate to land a civilian job with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Walla Walla.
“It was a great job with amazing people and extremely satisfying work,” Wilson-Kirtley says.
Still, she couldn’t let go of her life-long desire to study nursing. That’s how, at age 48, Wilson-Kirtley finds herself at Walla Walla Community College completing prerequisite classes that she hopes will lead to nursing school and a new career as a nurse practitioner or psychologist focused on helping teens or other veterans.
“It’s scary,” she confesses. “Though I already have a college degree, now I’m truly an unconventional student. I had educational benefits through the GI Bill, so I decided: ‘Why not go back to school and be what I truly want to be.’”
Veterans, their spouses and their dependents can access financial assistance and a host of other benefits at Walla Walla Community College, says Erienne Matthewson, a WWCC program specialist who has spent the past five years working one-on-one with veterans and their families.
Matthewson serves as the students’ liaison with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, identifying all of the programs for veterans, spouses and dependents. She estimates that 50 to 60 WWCC students receive some type of veteran’s educational benefits each quarter.
Benefits vary, depending on the veteran’s service or disability rating, but assistance might include partial or fully paid tuition as well as stipends covering the cost of books, materials and even housing. In addition, the state of Washington makes any student who is eligible for VA educational benefits also eligible for lower, in-state tuition costs.
“For someone separated from service, it can feel like a ‘sink or swim’ experience. It’s a matter of knowing where to start,” Matthewson says. “That’s why I’m here to help. There are many different ways we can pull resources together to help our students. If a veteran has a dream, we can help make it reality.”
Bill Coble has a passion for learning that he’s been able to explore at WWCC, thanks to his veterans’ benefits.
Coble, 61, served in the U.S. Navy from 1983 to 1991 as an aircraft engine mechanic. He worked as a wind turbine technician for 10 years before experiencing a knee injury while working on a tower.
More recently, he’s explored a variety of WWCC programs. In 2023, Coble graduated with a computer sciences networking degree. Earlier this year, Coble earned associate degrees in accounting technology and administrative office professional as well as a certificate in business administration entrepreneurship. In 2026, Coble expects to earn an AA degree in health information technology.
Coble works as a student employee in WWCC’s IT department and says his tuition costs have been covered by his veteran’s benefits, federal financial aid and the WWCC Warrior Pledge program.
“I graduated from high school in 1983 and hadn’t been in a classroom since then. I was pretty nervous about going to college,” he says. “I found community here at WWCC. Everybody here –whether it’s a teacher or staff member – is focused on helping students make it.”
WWCC’s Veterans Resource Center recently moved to a new location on the Walla Walla campus closer to other student resources. Matthewson says the center currently offers study workstations and information flyers. She is working to secure other resources to build out and fully equip the new space during the Winter Quarter.
In the meantime, she invites any veteran to reach out to her. “Starting with me is a great option,” she says. Matthewson can be reached via email at: veterans@wwcc.edu; phone her at 509-527-1864 or make an appointment using this link to her calendar.
Asked what advice she’d offer fellow veterans curious about college, Wilson-Kirtley says: “Don’t tell yourself you can’t do this. Talk with Erienne Matthewson at WWCC and find out what’s available. There’s so many people who are willing to help you get what you need.”
