Mike's Pass Parking Permit
What's a “Mike's Pass?"
A Mike's Pass is a free parking pass given to all veterans during their first semester of enrollment at Porterville College. (Mike's Passes for subsequent semesters can be "earned" - see the VRC counselor for more information on how to earn an additional Mike's Pass).
Inspiration for the idea...
The April 24, 2013 email distribution of the “Today's News - Office of Communications, California Community College State Chancellor's Office” included an article titled “Saving a Spot for a Veteran at Cuesta College.” The article was about Cuesta College providing free parking passes for their veteran students in honor of a former student, Michael Mihalakis, who was killed in December 2003 while serving in Iraq. While a student at Cuesta College, Michael joined the Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq. While in Iraq, Michael was planning to enroll back into classes at Cuesta College and emailed one of his former professors to “save a place for me” in his class because his unit was not returning until soon after the start of the spring term. Within a month of sending the email, Michael was killed in Baghdad. To honor the memory of his former student and especially his commitment to education, the professor began a special foundation account to purchase parking permits for Cuesta College veterans and the parking permits are known as “Mike's” in remembrance of Michael Mihalakis. Even though the story of Michael Mihalakis's sacrifice and dedication to education is the inspiration for this activity, this effort honors all local veterans who have placed a value in education by continuing their academic, career, and personal development by enrolling at Porterville College. As Michael asked his professor to do at Cuesta College, Porterville College would be “saving a place” in the parking lot for veterans to come and continue their education.
Method of Funding
Mike's Passes are funded through the generous donations of individuals, businesses or agencies in the community. Donations are made to a foundation account established for the specific purpose of providing this additional support to Porterville College veterans.
How to Register for a Mike's Pass
In order to obtain this free parking permit, veterans need to:
- Register for a general parking permit online at www.permitsales.net/PortervilleCollege.
- Select “other” as your payment method.
- Print out the receipt and bring it to the Veterans Resource Center counselor for verification. You will then be provided an approval form to take to the Business Office for pick-up of your parking permit.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
