Harrison Heist of Hancock, VT has an exciting opportunity this August. The Electromechanical Engineering Technology graduate from Vermont Tech was recently accepted into The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX). This fellowship is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the German Bundestag and allows 75 Americans and 75 Germans to spend one year in the other country studying language, their chosen profession, and gaining either internship or work experience.
Harrison stated that “it is an incredible opportunity that I am so grateful to have.” Of 540 applicants, Harrison was one of 75 chosen.
Harrison first heard about this opportunity after casually mentioning his interest in a German Exchange program to his professor. He says that Karry Booska in Career Services was a tremendous help in connecting Harrison to former CBYX participants at Vermont Tech and a program representative.
The CBYX program accepts professionals aged 18 ½ -24 from any field or industry as long as they can demonstrate their proficiency and commitment through work experiences or education history. Harrison has demonstrated his skill as an electromechanical engineer by completing a bachelor’s degree in Electromechanical Engineering Technology in the spring of 2019 as well as almost two years as a junior engineer at Micro Wire Transmission Systems in Essex Junction, VT.
Harrison has been teaching himself German with online resources, and will learn more during the language school phase where he will also be staying with a host family in Saarbrucken, Germany.
“As I get closer and closer to my departure date I can describe my feelings as euphoric and intoxicating. It is almost surreal that I have actually been given the opportunity to do this. My goal is to become as proficient in the language as possible and experience as much of the culture as I can.” Harrison added. He also seeks to learn more about engineering in Germany and plans to use this knowledge to help him find a career as a field service engineer.
The Vermont Tech community wishes Harrison, “Sichere Reise, mein Freund.”