Patrick Dillon didn’t always picture himself going on to college after he graduated from Fair Haven Union High School. Even when he enrolled in Dual Enrollment his junior year, then signed up for Early College his senior year, he figured he was getting a few college credits under his belt “just in case”—but he probably wouldn’t go any further, he thought.
Dual Enrollment and Early College give eligible high school students the opportunity to complete high school and college requirements simultaneously, saving time and money while easing the transition to higher education. Nobody in Patrick’s family had ever gone to college before, but with the Castleton campus of VTSU so accessible, it was easy to take a few classes while he was still in high school.
Despite his initial indifference about continuing to college after high school, Patrick’s perspective began to shift when he stepped into his Early College classes at the Castleton campus of Vermont State University (VTSU). The campus felt different than he expected—more personal, with details that made him feel acknowledged. “I ended up really liking it,” Patrick says. “One teacher I had really stuck out to me—Pat Brougham. I’ve taken three classes with her so far. She always knew who each student was.” Another professor, Heather Porter, also made an impression. “She really worked with me to make sure I understood what I was learning. She was very kind.”
Today, Patrick is in his first year as a full-time student at VTSU, pursuing a degree in psychology after an initial interest in criminal justice. He’s on track to graduate in 2028—in just three years thanks to those Dual Enrollment and Early College credits—and hopes to become a school psychologist, specializing in counseling. “The last four years I’ve worked at a summer camp with kids,” he explains, through his summer job at the Fair Haven recreation program. “And I want to work with kids in the future. The whole of the experiences I’ve had with them inspires me.”
Patrick is the first in his family to go to college
In middle school Patrick had connected with Tia Stillman, an Outreach Counselor with VSAC’s GEAR UP college and career readiness program. Fast forward a few years and Patrick’s time with GEAR UP turned more tactical. “I would meet with Tia at VTSU or at Fair Haven, wherever I had classes, and she would help me look through the scholarships to figure out what I could apply for.”
In his junior year, Rachel Casey stepped into the role of Patrick’s VSAC Outreach Counselor. As Patrick started thinking more seriously about college, Rachel started meeting with his parents too. “The college stuff didn’t make sense to them, so Rachel helped me and my parents understand it.”
Those meetings became a regular part of his weeks and months in his senior year. “Rachel helped me apply for everything I could. She really got it,” he says. Together, they completed his FAFSA federal financial aid application, applied for the Vermont Grant, and searched for scholarships he might be eligible for. “I don’t quite qualify for much financial aid, but at the same time, we can’t really afford to pay for college,” he explains. “If I wanted to go, I knew I had to pay for it.” Rachel walked him through loan options as well. “Rachel’s explanations of how everything worked were so helpful. My parents and I had so many questions,” he says.
VTSU Castleton was the right fit
Patrick applied to several colleges around New England. His decision-making process was methodical: he applied, reviewed each financial aid package with Rachel, and compared scholarships and costs.
Ultimately, his financial aid package, coupled with VTSU’s size and sense of community, won him over. “I like the small school. It feels like a family,” Patrick says. “Classes are small and people are friendly. I have a good friend group.”
“In my mind, there was always a home for me at Castleton,” he says. “I knew I wanted to be in New England. And after I looked around, I just kept coming back home.”
From success on student council to studying psychology
In high school, Patrick was deeply involved in student council all four years. “I made my voice heard,” he says. He was elected class treasurer his first year and was involved in planning student activities and fundraisers. Junior year stands out as a core memory: “Two friends and I ran all of the events during homecoming week. It was really fun.”
At first, Patrick imagined himself pursuing criminal justice or even becoming a high school teacher. But as his interests developed, psychology stood out as both a meaningful and practical option. “I liked it more, and I thought the job prospects might be bigger,” he says. His goal now is to become a school psychologist, working with young people like those he’s mentored in his summer camp counselor job.
Balancing college, work, and time with friends and family
Patrick has worked at Dunkin’ Donuts in Fair Haven for three years and clocks about 30 hours a week. After living off campus, he moved into the Castleton residence halls for the first time this autumn. Balancing work and classes isn’t always easy, but Patrick says he’s strategic. If he can finish his undergraduate degree in three years like he plans to, he notes, he can move directly into a master’s degree program—ideally with employer support.
Patrick spends his downtime with friends, family, and his two golden retrievers, Hudson and Fisher. On campus, he’s finding his rhythm, surrounded by a community that feels familiar but offers new opportunities. He’s looking forward to getting more involved—possibly even traveling—and is already charting a clear path toward his goal of becoming a school psychologist.
GEAR UP had a huge impact
Looking back, Patrick is crystal clear on the impact of VSAC’s GEAR UP program. “I think I would have been lost without Tia and Rachel to help me out,” he says. “I think if I didn’t have VSAC, I honestly wouldn’t have gone to school.”
But he did. And now, at VTSU, Patrick is determined to make every moment count as he works toward his goals.
The Vermont Student Assistance Corp. was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 as a public nonprofit agency. We advocate for Vermont students and their families to ensure that they have the tools they need to achieve their education and training goals. We create opportunities for all Vermont students, but particularly for those—of any age—who believe that the doors to education are closed to them. Growing families save for education with VT529, Vermont’s official 529 savings program. To help Vermonters plan and pay for college or job training, our counselors work with students in nearly every Vermont middle school and high school, and are also available to work with adults. Our grant, scholarship, and workforce development programs create opportunity, help students re-skill or learn new skills, and grow the economy. VSAC’s loan and loan forgiveness programs provide competitive education financing to students and families. Find us at www.vsac.org or visit Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.
