WESSON — Copiah-Lincoln Community College has been named a Military Friendly School as announced by G.I. Jobs. Co-Lin was one of four Mississippi colleges and universities to receive the distinction and the only community college selected.

The list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools, which are doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students.

“We are very proud of this distinction,” said Co-Lin President Ronnie Nettles. “I commend the efforts of Tim Lea, our certifying official for veteran’s affairs and our Office of Admissions for their efforts with our veteran students.”

Schools on the list range from state and universities and private colleges to community colleges and trade schools. The common bond is their shared priority of recruiting students with military experience.

“The list is especially important now because the recently enacted Post-9/11 GI Bill has given veterans virtually unlimited financial means to go to school,” said Rich McCormack, G.I. Jobs publisher. “Veterans can now enroll in any school, provided they’re academically qualified. So schools are clamoring for them like never before. Veterans need a trusted friend to help them decide where to get educated. The Military Friendly Schools list is that trusted friend.”

Schools on the Military Friendly Schools list also offer additional benefits to student veterans such as on-campus veterans programs, credit services, military spouse programs and more.

The list was compiled through exhaustive research starting last May during the G.I. Jobs polled more than 7,000 schools nationwide. Methodology, criteria and weighting for the list were developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Committee consisting of educators and administrators from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Toledo, Duquesne University, Coastline Community College and Lincoln Technical Institute.

A full story and detailed list of Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools and on a poster, both of which will be distributed to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in September. A new Web site, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, launched in September with interactive tools and search functionally to assist military veterans in choosing schools that best meet their educational needs.

Criteria for making the Military Friendly Schools list included efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students, results in recruiting military and veteran students and academic accreditations.