25 hours a day...

Hi, my name is Wayne Churchill, and I am a student here at Granite State College.  I am a very typical student in an adult college program, but like most people, I enjoy recognizing and celebrating my uniqueness.  I live in Lebanon, NH with my son, his mother and her two daughters.  I enjoy traveling, playing and watching sports, and watching my favorite television show, The Office.

So, what makes me a typical student here at GSC?  I am a parent, I have a full time and a part time job, and am here to bring more choice to my career.  After graduating from high school, I went to Keene State, but I had no idea what I wanted to do when I grew up.  A lack of a goal makes for an unclear path to success, and thus I spent three semesters spinning my wheels.  I decided to leave for the working world, and for the next 10 years I cultivated a reputation as a hard working, focused contributor at my company, Hypertherm Inc, which is a strong supporter of career advancement education.  Over the years I earned a couple nice promotions and as I gained confidence and a clearer understanding of my skills and talents, (and thus a path for my career), I began to recognize I was being passed over for promotions that I know I would have excelled in, but due to my company's committment of rewarding those who have made the sacifice of earning a degree, I was hitting a bit of a glass ceiling.

In 2008, I decided to stop making excuses from my potential for maximizing my income and increasing my choices.  I enrolled at GSC, and I have not looked back.  My employer has recognized me as an Associate who is willing to make that sacrifice, and this calculated risk has and continues to pay off through opportunities such as special projects that get me higher visibility in my company and a greater likelihood of finally working in the career field of my choosing.

I am thankful to GSC because our mission is to be the college of choice for adults in New Hampshire through access to higher education.  What does "access" mean?  Affordable bachelor degrees, alternative and flexible course delivery options (such as weekend college classes) and the promise of exposure to to new ideas for managing life and issues at the workplace that are viable because they come from other adults who are here for the same reason that I am.  I love this college and what it represents, and I will continue to give back long after I don my cap and gown.