Two students participating in a nontraditional program at the New Hampshire Community College were recently awarded $400 scholarships. Phil Puliafico, a freshman from Nashua, studying Culinary Arts, and Samantha Gaudette, a freshman from Guildhall, VT, studying Automotive Technology, definitely fit the criteria of nontraditional students. They are both majoring in a field for which individuals from their gender make up less than 25 percent of the people employed in the occupation.
Samantha shared her experiences saying, "When I first told my family and friends that I was going to go to school for Automotive, a lot of them tried to talk me out of it because 'the automotive world, is a man's world', but I told them there is no such place as a man's world anymore." Sam said that she chose the Automotive field because "I grew up around cars and motorcycles and I used to help my father work on his bike when I was little. When I decided to go to college, I made a decision to study Automotive because I want to pursue a career working with vehicles."
Samantha (left) receives her scholarship.
Aside from Automotive Technology, other fields considered nontraditional for females include, Applied Engineering Technology, Automotive Technology/Service Management, Computer Information Systems, Computer Technology, Criminal Justice, Manufacturing Technology, Mobile Equipment and Diesel Technology, Spatial Information Technology, and Water Quality. Al Host, Automotive Technology professor, said that "Although we have two girls this year enrolled in the program, which is more than in recent years, we have not experienced an overabundance of females showing interest in the department."
For males, the list of nontraditional courses includes Accounting, Business Administration, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, Human Services, Nursing, Office Technology Management, and Teacher Preparation. "The reason that I chose the culinary arts field is that ever since I was a young child I have enjoyed cooking, but what I really love is the incredible feeling you get when people see the hard work you have put into preparing and cooking their food", said Philip.
Philip (left) receives her scholarship.
"There are many nontraditional students at the New Hampshire Community College who deserve to be recognized for confronting the numerous difficulties associated with taking the road less traveled," said Melissa Wedge, nontraditional recruiter for the college. For more information, please call NHCTC at 752-1113 or visit www.berlin.ccsnh.edu.
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