CANTON -- SUNY Canton has been selected as one of the most Military Spouse Friendly schools in the nation for 2022-2023.

The college was recognized for its commitment to serving those married to active duty, reserve, National Guard and veterans. Approximately 340 schools received the honor this year, and ratings were determined by evaluating public data sources and survey responses. The results will be published in the July/August issue of Military Spouse Magazine.

Patrick S. Massaro, SUNY Canton's veterans coordinator, oversees outreach efforts to military spouses and connects them with available resources. One of those students, Renee Marotta, a full-time online Legal Studies major from Long Island, utilized GI Bill benefits to complete her degree in May. Marotta also works as a paralegal and plans to continue on to law school this fall to become an attorney.

"I have maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout my time at SUNY Canton, and I owe it all to the opportunity afforded to me by my husband, the military, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as well as Mr. Massaro for helping me to utilize the benefits to their fullest extent," Marotta said. "This experience has been an absolute blessing in my life, and I am forever grateful to all who have made this dream possible."

SUNY Canton was selected for the Military Spouse Friendly list in part due to its online and other flexible learning options, which are valuable to active duty military spouses who often have to relocate or deploy in 3-4 year increments.

Renowned for its military-friendly culture, SUNY Canton consistently receives recognition for helping service members and veterans reach their educational goals. The college earned Gold status on the 2022-2023 Military Friendly school rankings in March, as well as its highest-ever score in Military Times Magazines' "Best for Vets" issue, ranking third in the nation on the Career and Technical College list.