Alumni Association
Alumni Association
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020!
UVM Nursing Students Graduate Early to Join Frontline Healthcare Workers
On May 1, all 95 nursing students from the Class of 2020 walked across a virtual “stage” and received their degrees three weeks ahead of their classmates in other programs around campus. Why? To head to the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a pioneering collaboration between the University and the Vermont State Board of Nursing, these new graduates are receiving temporary permits so they can get to work at hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the state while they prepare for their Registered Nurse licensure exam. When UVM students moved home and switched to remote learning in March, Kenzie Apjohn ’20 went to work right away as a medical assistant at a nearby community health center. “I feel that UVM has prepared me to persevere, be compassionate, and stay positive throughout the entire process,” she says. “I believe that I am ready to take this next step. I am looking at this as a challenge, and I am excited to take it on.” Best of luck to Kenzie and all the members of the Class of 2020!
Kenzie Apjohn ’20 (right) of Fair Haven, Vermont plans to work this summer as a nurse at Rutland Community Health Center, then enter the Nurse Residency Program in the UVM Medical Center’s Emergency Department. She is a recipient of the George C. & Gertrude D. Crooks Scholarship.
A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Graduates
We’re beyond thrilled to welcome the Class of 2020 to our UVM Alumni family. We’re a proud and diverse group, 121,000 strong, who will always be a part of UVM. You have graduated under the most incredible circumstances and exemplify everything that is #UVMStrong. We couldn’t be more proud of the resilient Class of 2020. The UVM Alumni Association is here for you now, tomorrow, and in the future.
UVM Alumni House stands as an enduring testament to the rich history of the University of Vermont and the Burlington community. A striking example of the Queen Anne architectural style of the late Victorian era, it was built in the late 1890s as the home of prominent local businessman Edward Wells, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 3, 1979.
Young Alum Helps Peers Land Their First Jobs
Chris Petrillo ’18 (center) is from a UVM family. His father and sister are both graduates, and his mother is a UVM professor. Chris graduated in 2018 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. The fall after graduation, he had secured his first “real” job working as a knowledge engineer for Amazon Alexa. Vermont born and bred, Chris was happy with his new position but missed his home state and his beloved University of Vermont. Ever solutions-based, Chris figured out that if he couldn’t be in Vermont, he could bring some Vermont to him by referring fellow UVMers to the company. Luckily for Chris, Amazon’s human resources team really values referrals and word of mouth when hiring. Amazon employees know that the company is interested in hires with a strong work ethic who can produce high-quality output. To that end, Chris has been able to refer “three going on four” UVMers to the company. He currently lives with two of those alums, and the entire UVM group hangs out together outside of work.
“It’s a lot easier transitioning to working full time in a totally new place when you have some fellow UVMers beside you.”
Chris Petrillo ’18
The Santa Barbara Crew
Chris Petrillo '18 Mechanical Engineering
Dale Wilson '19 Molecular Genetics
Brandon Tracy '19 Public Communications
Isabel Stewart '19 Molecular Genetics
Join our vibrant network of UVM Alumni today and show your Catamount spirit!
On UVM Connect, our more than 7,700 members can reconnect, offer support, network, and find career advancement.
JOIN TODAY
Reconnect
Find and reminisce with fellow Catamounts, see what they have been up to, and stay in touch.
Offer Support
Connect, mentor, and advise students and young professionals. Share job opportunities.
Network
Leverage personal and professional connections to network with UVM’s worldwide community.
Find Career Advancement
Explore career opportunities and job postings open to members of UVM Connect.
Nick Bouffard ’20 Finds Home via UVM Connect
Nick Bouffard ’20 graduated this May with a double major in neuroscience and computer science. His senior year, he found an exciting position at Epic Systems Corporation in Madison, Wisconsin, through the Career Center’s Handshake software. Nick applied and then flew out to interview in October. In January, he was offered and accepted a position to begin after graduation. Now that Nick was set with his employment, his next challenge was deciding which area of Madison would become his home. For that, he turned to UVM Connect. On UVM Connect Nick found an alum, Ben Rouleau ’14, who not only lived in Madison but worked for the Madison Department of Travel. Ben’s sister had taken a job at Epic the year before, so he had already done his homework on which Madison areas were ideal for Epic employees. He provided Nick with a map with different regions of Madison highlighted based on different criteria. Nick’s apartment search could not have been easier.
We'll miss you in person this fall.
We're working hard to find new ways to connect.
Because your safety and health are our first priority, we've made the tough decision to cancel on-campus reunion celebrations this fall. Please know that our staff is committed to developing new ways to celebrate your milestone reunion years. For up-to-date information visit:
alumni.uvm.edu/alumniweekend
