By Jackie Hilton
Pomp and Circumstance is playing, names and majors are being called, and that can only mean one thing: graduation.
Chris Veinotte, a senior Criminal Justice student here at Husson University, is one of the students making his way onto the stage to collect his diploma.
“I am excited to be finishing up this part of my life and starting a new one,” said Veinotte. “I have spent enough time sitting in a classroom; I want to be out doing what I’ve been studying to do.”
For Veinotte, it is crazy for him to think about how fast college has flown by, especially now that he is staring at the end of the tunnel. Veinotte feels that it is impossible that he is already finishing four years.
“The biggest thing I think I’m taking away from school is the connections I’ve developed here. Especially in the School of Legal Studies, there are some really impressive professors who have connections that run the gamut,” said Veinotte. “My ultimate goal is to work in federal law enforcement, and I have had two professors with experience in that field. I will most definitely keep in touch with them in the following years.”
As for immediate plans, Veinotte is currently going through the hiring process at the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office to work as a Corrections Officer within the county jail. He has completed an internship there during the months of March and April, and was told by the training sergeant that he has a very good chance of being hired.
“I have completed a written test earlier this week and have two interviews next week; assuming I pass those as well, I will have a conditional offer of hire before graduation, which will be a huge weight off my shoulders.”
Currently living in an apartment off campus, if Veinotte lands the job at the sheriff’s office, he plans to find a house to rent and move into. Until then, all he can do is wait for that moment until his name is called and he receives that paper on May 10th that tells him he has graduated and has achieved his degree at Husson University.