careers – Houghton STAR

When planning course loads each semester, not many of us anticipate learning land navigation or combat skills as possible syllabus expectations. However, for the Houghton students participating in the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), that’s exactly the type of schedule they can expect.

Photo courtesy of houghton.edu

ROTC is a program designed for people interested in attaining a four year degree and serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Cadet Elizabeth Groff ‘19 said of her choice to participate in ROTC, “I thought it was really cool that while you’re learning your [academic], you can also earn your military degree.” Groff went on to discuss the important skills students develop, such as leadership training and self-discipline, while simultaneously building their resumes and looking forward to the possibility of a scholarship. Speaking of the physical portion of the program, she also commented, “I’m learning the limits I can push myself to.”

There is no need to be a contracted military member; the classes are open to students of any discipline and there is no long-term commitment, although a military career is one possible outcome. For those continuing on with the military, they will graduate college and enter either the reserves or active duty as a second lieutenant.

Cadet Victoria Krisher ‘19, a contracted cadet who is interested in becoming an Army dentist, said her interest in ROTC began with her family history of military service. She said of her family heritage, “They always told me how their experiences [in the military] have shaped their lives, and a lot of their experiences were sort of instilled in how I was raised.” She continued, “I didn’t want a normal job. I wanted to make a difference, make an impact.”

According to Houghton’s website, Houghton is part of the Seneca Battalion, which is hosted by St. Bonaventure University. Cadets travel to Bonaventure once a week for the lab component of their coursework, in which they do everything from battle drills to eight-mile rucks. Both Krisher and Groff described labs as an extremely valuable and portion of the program. Krisher stated that “in labs, we get to apply everything that we’ve learned.”

For anyone interested in joining ROTC, Groff assured that it is not too late and encourages students to talk to any of the cadets or to ROTC faculty advisor and psychology professor, John Van Wicklin. She said, “There’s really no applying [to ROTC]. I think what a lot of people don’t realize is that it’s an actual class… just tell your advisor you’d like to add it to your schedule.” It is possible to begin taking courses as late as junior year, so the timeframe for adding ROTC courses is quite broad. Groff also emphasized that there is no pressure to continue on with a ROTC or a military career if it is not a good fit for the individual. Personal growth and the development of leadership skills, however, are lifelong benefits of participating in ROTC.

Houghton College is dedicated to preparing their students for the workplace, and sometimes that workplace is the college itself. Recent graduates can apply for employment at the school after earning their degree to make an impressive addition to their resume. Zachary Palmer ‘16, Connor Vogan ‘15, and Jesse Carter ‘16 are three recent graduates who are now a part of the Houghton community in a different way, as an employee.

Photo by: Nate Moore

Vogan, a fourth generation Houghton alumni, originally came to Houghton because he was recruited for soccer. He always felt welcomed when he visited campus, and felt valued as a student. This was part of the reason he returned a year after graduating. Vogan graduated with a business degree, and decided to pursue his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Vogan worked a few different jobs, such as a startup company run by a friend, in addition to working in a coffee shop for t a year to save money to continue his academic pursuit Shortly before leaving for Rochester to start his schooling, Vogan received a message from Kim Pool asking if he would like a job at Houghton College. Pool thought the tasks of this particular title would be perfect for Vogan. Now the Enrollment Marketing Coordinator, Vogan is doing the work he always wanted, and is currently pursuing a MBA for.. According to Vogan, working at Houghton in the mornings has been ideal. He said, “I get what I want with a brand that I love and am invested in.” He feels poured into, spiritually, as an employee at Houghton.

Carter, a humanities major who graduated in May, originally came to Houghton as a student wanting to attend an academic-achieving Christian school. He had previously attended community college, transferring to Houghton in the Fall of 2014. Because Carter had less time at Houghton than most students, he wanted to stay for a longer period of time. He is now an admissions counselor for the upstate New York area. His favorite thing about the job is being able to go on high school visits and see the faces of students he speaks with over the phone. According to Carter, the most bizarre aspect of his new role is being able to call the professors he learned from just months ago by their first names.

Another Houghton graduate now employed at the school is Palmer. During his time at Houghton, Palmer was most appreciative of the professors would take time out of their day to “sit down for an hour and talk with you about life.” Palmer studied psychology while a student, and loved it. He and his wife are still looking for graduate schools, but have found that working at Houghton during their gap year was “the best choice since we have so many ties to the community.” Palmer enjoys working at Houghton, and said his college experience has prepared him to work diligently and have grace on himself.

To the current students looking towards graduation, Carter said, “Don’t worry as much as you are probably worrying now. There are people at this school who will help you. Don’t be afraid to take chances because you don’t know what opportunities will happen from the risks you take. Enjoy every moment with your senior class. This will be the last time you see all of your friends in this kind of setting, and that should not be taken for granted.”