Hartford Native, Jonathan Alvin worked throughout high school in preparation for paying for his post-secondary education. Jonathan initially enrolled at the Community College of Vermont and then joined the National Guard. This is how he found Vermont Tech.
“Originally when I decided to go back to school I spent a semester in Colorado before finding Vermont Tech. The classes out West were enormous to the point where I was just a number. Vermont Tech’s student to teacher ratio was a major factor in my decision to come here as well as having a degree path which I’m very interested in.”
Jonathan learns best by doing, and the Renewable Energy program at Vermont Tech offered an attractive career path where he could be successful while remaining in the State of Vermont. Jonathan is fascinated by solar energy and described his choice to study Renewable Energy as a “no-brainer”. In his first year, he achieved great academic success and was named on the President’s List for the Spring of 2019.
But, he says, it isn’t all about what you learn in the classroom that makes college important. “College is important from a networking standpoint, and you should never stop learning because life never stops teaching,” says Jonathan. He was active on campus, participating in the multicultural club, the veterans club, men’s soccer, and our college radio station, WVTC.
Jonathan also participated in an internship this past summer at NRG Systems in Hinesburg. He spent his time working with the production team to build sensors and evaluate potential sites for wind turbine construction. He looks forward to a rewarding year this year and more learning opportunities to come.