A recent graduate of Barton Community College at Fort Leavenworth, Peter Anderson has had a whole world open up to him thanks to the flexible, military-friendly nature of Barton’s LSEC program, which can be taken at no cost for active-duty soldiers, their dependents, and any Department of Defense employees.

“I have nothing but positive things to say about Barton,” he said. “I moved out at 17, and I’ve had a full-time job for the past two years. Barton has worked with my schedule in an incredible way. Every professor I’ve met has been very kind and wants to see me succeed. I was even introduced and inducted into Phi Theta Kappa (honor society), and I had never previously heard of it.”

Anderson got his associate degree in only one year and credits Barton’s willingness to work with its students as an institution that truly understands the lives of military families.

“I have seen countless times classmates have to ask off because they are being sent to the field or various other tasks,” he said. “The professors have been nothing but kind and supportive when this happens.”

Anderson learned of the financial benefits of the LSEC program when his sister utilized Barton for her degree. He knew it was worth his efforts to find a way to take advantage of Barton and minimize debt while he pursued his education.

“Knowing that we wouldn’t have to pay for classes took a massive weight off our shoulders,” he said. “I even moved back to Fort Leavenworth just for Barton.”

Anderson said he learned more than just academics during his time at Barton.

“I love to work in a team setting,” he said. “I do well when working creatively, and I greatly enjoy working in a team setting, something I didn’t know about myself before Barton.”

Anderson is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in personnel administration with a minor in entrepreneurship.

Visit FL.bartonccc.edu for more information about Barton’s many programs and services to the public, soldiers, and their families.