As Vermonters and visitors alike hit the slopes of Killington this winter they likely crossed paths with a VTSU Resort & Hospitality Management student working on the mountain and gaining valuable hands-on experience to support their career aspirations.
This weekend, 16 students graduated from the program. Here’s a snapshot of their impressive accomplishments over the past three years:
2,764 days skied
3.47 average GPA
53 jobs held by students throughout their three years
32,719 total hours worked
$610,810 total wages earned
$52,045 average wages earned per student over their three years
Unique among other academic programs offered at VTSU, the Resort & Hospitality Management Program is an accelerated, three-year program that is wholly embedded within Killington Resort. With an average of 15-20 students each year, the program is woven into the Killington community, where VTSU has a dedicated learning site and an on-site residence hall for students in the program. Students learn from industry experts as they take course loads that reflect the multitude of diverse knowledge needs across the industry, can ski and bike for free at Killington, and earn a paycheck in addition to academic credit while they gain operations experience at the resort.
Mike Solimano, president and CEO of Killington Resort, stated, “It’s been a great program for us for over 20 years. So many of our team have come through that program so we look at it as a feeder program to our management team. In fact, seven graduates are staying on with us for careers here after graduation this weekend, bringing the total number of Resort & Hospitality Management program alumni currently working at Killington to 48. I think the other piece that’s really important is students are really getting hands-on experience. A lot of programs are theoretical. Not this one. The dorm is right down the road and they are fully immersed at Killington and in the Killington culture.”
VTSU President David Bergh added, “VTSU is incredibly proud of the partnership we’ve built over the years with Killington and of the many incredible graduates of this program. This program is a great example of the type of experiential learning students have come to expect from Vermont State and illustrates a creative way we’re addressing the needs of employers across Vermont’s top economic driver: our tourism industry. Students are coming to Vermont for this program, they’re getting incredible experience, and they’re staying to live and work here because they’re able to get a great paying job that they love, and they’re able to work where they play. It’s a win-win-win.”
Kristel Killary, assistant professor and coordinator of the Resort & Hospitality Management Program, noted, “these students are immersed year-round in all aspects of resort operations. They’re running front-end, mountain, and back-end operations while connecting with industry leaders, learning how to adapt to industry changes, and doing it all in the heart of Vermont’s green mountains. It’s an incredible opportunity for anyone who loves the outdoors and is interested in a career in Vermont’s booming tourism industry. ”
“My favorite thing about this program is that we get hands-on experience,” shared CC Allembert, a graduate who is now beginning her career in snowmaking. “If you don’t like to be in a regular classroom or doing the regular school thing, if that’s not your forte, I think this would be an awesome choice for you. It definitely gets you ready for the real world. It’s outdoorsy and hands-on. I’ve spent three years living and breathing at Killington Resort and I absolutely love it.”
For more information, visit: vermontstate.edu/academic-programs/resort-hospitality-management-bs.
