Waterbury, Conn. – Thomaston Savings Bank awarded student Kevin Trinidad a scholarship on Monday, giving Trinidad the chance to attend NVCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center for one year.

NVCC and TSB representatives gathered at the manufacturing center on Monday to take a tour of the state-of-the-art facility built in 2012, and presented Trinidad with his award, surrounded by his peers and instructors.

“I am so surprised and thankful,” Trinidad said. “I knew I wanted to take classes here after I toured it for the first time, and now it’s happening.”

Trinidad was chosen from a pool of applicants based on an essay describing why he wanted to attend the manufacturing program, and how he believed it would change his life.

“Kevin’s essay really stood out to us, not only because he was a motivated young man who really wanted to make a change, but because of the excitement he described in seeing this facility for the first time. As bankers seeing it for the first time as well, we connected with that same sense of excitement, on how much good this would do for the community and the students,” TSB Commercial Loan Department Vice President Kim Lebron said.

Thomaston Savings Bank President Stephen Lewis thanked NVCC for providing a service to the business community by training and providing workers with in-demand job skills, which aligns with TSB’s commitment to serving and bettering its local community.

“We hear from our community that they are looking for good, trained employees, and this really ties back to our commitment to our customers and our community, so we thought this would be a good way to give back,” Lewis said. “When I came out to see this facility I thought it is amazing what you have done here, thank you.”

NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D., said the manufacturing program works so well because of community partnerships such as the Smaller Manufacturers Association and the AMTC’s dedicated faculty and staff.

“This program is close to my heart because I know it changes lives and produces the kind of training that’s in demand in our community,” President De Filippis said. “Our school is playing a role in bringing the kinds of jobs that will change the area for the better.”