Each November, Johnson County Community College (JCCC) honors veterans and members of the military with a series of events and activities bringing together students, employees, and the community during Veterans Week, Nov. 4-11.
This year’s Veterans Week includes a milestone for JCCC’s veteran and military community: the official grand opening of the College’s expanded Veteran & Military Student Resource Center (VMSRC).
New center brings veteran resources together
JCCC will celebrate the new VMSRC with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon Wednesday, Nov. 11, on Veterans Day.
The expanded center brings several veteran-focused services together in one central location, making it easier for students and community members to find support. In addition to helping students navigate VA education benefits and the transition to college, the center now houses a full-time counselor from the Kansas City Vet Center, the VetSuccess on Campus program, and the Johnson County Field Office for the Kansas Office of Veteran Services.
“Our commitment to veterans extends well beyond Veterans Week,” said Kena Zumalt, VMSRC director. “The Veteran & Military Student Resource Center gives veterans and military-connected students a dedicated place to find support, connect with peers and access resources, while also allowing JCCC to serve veterans and their families throughout Johnson County.”
New student lounge honors Olathe veteran Spencer Duncan
The expanded center also features the new SPC Spencer Duncan Student Lounge, a welcoming space for veteran and military-connected students to meet, study, or spend time between classes.
The lounge is named in honor of Spencer Duncan, an Olathe native and 2008 graduate of Olathe South High School who enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve after graduation. Duncan trained as a CH-47 Chinook helicopter repairman and later became a door gunner with the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment at New Century AirCenter near Gardner.
In 2011, Duncan deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, serving as part of a Chinook flight crew that supported special operations missions. Duncan was among 30 American service members killed Aug. 6, 2011, when the helicopter known as Extortion 17 was shot down in Afghanistan.
His legacy continues in Johnson County through the Spencer C. Duncan Make It Count Foundation, established by his family to support veterans and encourage others to make a difference in their communities.
Spencer Duncan’s parents, Megan and Dale, will join JCCC for the Nov. 11 dedication of the SPC Spencer Duncan Student Lounge. For more than 10 years, the Spencer C. Duncan Make It Count Foundation has provided nearly $150,000 in book scholarships to JCCC student veterans.
Veterans Week 2026
Several events are planned throughout November for JCCC to recognize veterans and members of the military and highlight the resources available to veterans on campus and throughout Johnson County.
Last week on Nov. 4, Army veteran and author Jason Kander visited JCCC for conversations about resilience, leadership, and service. Kander spoke with students in the CoLab before taking the stage at Yardley Hall that evening for a free community conversation.
On Nov. 5, JCCC screened In Their Own Words: Mexican American Vietnam Era Veterans, a short film created through the College’s veteran oral history project. The event also included a panel discussion featuring veterans interviewed for the film, who shared their experiences serving in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War era. The screening marks the final year of the nearly decade-long collaboration among JCCC’s Veterans & Military Student Resource Center, Kansas Studies Institute, and Video Services on the veteran oral history project.
Learn more
JCCC’s Veterans Week activities continue through Nov. 11, offering students and community members opportunities to honor local veterans and learn more about the services available to veterans and their families throughout Johnson County.
Learn more at jccc.edu/veterans.
