Naugatuck Valley Community College student Wilson Rosado II of Watertown has been named NVCC’s Manufacturing Technology Student of the Year for 2015. The honor is bestowed by the Smaller Manufacturers Association (SMA) of Connecticut, which is housed at the College.

Rosado, who already holds an Associate Degree in Visual Communication, will receive a Certificate in Advanced Manufacturing Technology on May 28 at NVCC’s 50th Commencement at the Palace Theater. His next stop is Heitkamp & Thumann Group (H&T) in Waterbury, where he will be an apprentice.

NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D. says Rosado’s success highlights the strong partnerships the manufacturing program has forged in the region, with groups such as the SMA and the business community.

“This program is close to my heart because I know it changes lives by producing the kind of training that’s in demand in our community,” De Filippis said. “Wilson’s story is just one of countless examples of individual success supported by our excellent faculty and dedicated industry partners.” 

What’s Rosado’s five-year plan? “Hopefully, I’ll be a manager, maybe even a supervisor. Ultimately, I would like to be an engineer,” he said, wearing a pair of safety glasses and beaming, as his name was affixed to the Student of the Year plaque which adorns the wall near the entrance to NVCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center (AMTC). Rosado’s advice for others seeking a career in manufacturing: “Don’t stop; don’t back down from anything. Just take on any challenge and give it your best.”

“Wilson was able to accomplish his goals and live up to his standards through the help and support of the NVCC manufacturing program,” said SMA President Anne Strobel, who serves as General Manager at Marjan Inc. in Waterbury. “We at the SMA look forward to seeing Wilson take on leadership roles in manufacturing within the near future.”