Gillette College is excited to announce Jonathan Orellana as the student spotlight for October 2024. Chosen by Travis Grubb, Dean of Career and Technical Education at Gillette College, he is a Diesel Technology Student, graduating this December. His drive and ability to overcome adversity prove that returning to school is possible and achievable.
Jonathan’s commitment to school and all that it offers is why choosing him as the student to spotlight this month was so easy. “Jonathan does a great job balancing school, raising his family all while working full at Torgerson’s Equipment. He is also an active member of SkillsUSA and Diesel Club,” stated Dean Grubb.
When asked why he is so involved, his answer was simple: “I’m in my thirties and had a rough past, so I feel like I’m starting from behind and it makes me want to do the most that I can and to be involved the most that I can not necessarily to catch up. I want to give myself the best chance I have in this field because I have chosen it to provide for my family, for the rest of my life. (Diesel) is what I can see myself doing until I’m sixty.”
Jonathan is an excellent example for all “non-traditional” students taking the chance to return to school. While some might fear returning to academics, he had the courage and said he “jumped in before I fully knew, but once I got into the classes, I could see the bigger picture and knew I could set myself up for a better future.”
Spend time with Jonathan, and you know why he was chosen as the student spotlight of October 2024. His passion for Gillette College is evident when he talks about the trajectory of his life now that he enrolled in diesel classes. The instructors have made a lasting impression on him by helping him find a job at Torgerson’s while he is still enrolled, which has helped back his education. Jonathan’s dedication and achievements, both academically and outside of school, along with his enthusiasm for his field, make him well deserving of this recognition.
