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Spencerian Graduate Success! |
Todd Matonich graduated from Spencerian, Lexington in September 2007. But his Spencerian journey began far from Lexington in his hometown Norway, MI, a small town in the Upper Peninsula. The unemployment rate hit an all time high of 16.8% in 2003. Todd was forced to make the tough decision of moving to create better life for himself and his children.
After relocating to Lexington, KY, Todd found Spencerian at a job fair at the Hyatt Regency. Todd was impressed with Spencerian and felt it was the perfect school fit for him. Todd began in Spencerian College in March 2005 as a Civil, Mechanical and Architectural CADD major. He soon found Spencerian was the right environment he needed to succeed. Todd stated he often felt Spencerian was more like a family, than a school. He states, “I at times felt like a member of a large family versus a student number. All the staff is very concerned about all the students and their well being as well as their education status.”
Within the Spencerian family, Todd was fortunate to find mentors to help him make it through his courses. Todd states, “Mr. Luntz needs to be recognized in my eyes as one of the best and most caring instructors I have dealt with at Spencerian! He is a major asset to you all and if nothing else I would like him to know how much he has truly impacted my life and my career!”
Todd’s path to graduation had its bumps, but he fought his way through them. Todd feels this fight is his greatest accomplishment, “the fact that I came back to school at the age of 34, maintained a 3.89 GPA while working full time in the field of my degree and graduated … It makes me feel great knowing I set a precedence for my two children to follow and know that anything can be achieved no matter what the obstacle is in front of you.”
After working in his field of study since his third quarter of school, Todd was offered a job with Sherman Carter Barnhart, an award winning Engineering Firm located in Lexington, KY. Todd holds a Design Position, working directly with Construction Administration, as well as assisting Project Management for the Studio for which he works.
Todd feels his education at Spencerian, Lexington taught him what he needed to exceed and then some. He feels he has been able to over achieve in his field because of the confidence knowing multiple software programs has afforded him. “The ability to learn and adapt to new programs quickly and effectively has been an asset to the position I hold within the firm,” says Todd. He feels this knowledge gives him the option to move up to higher level positions within the firm, creating job stability.
Despite his prestigious career, Todd has not forgotten the school from which he came. Since his seventh quarter at Spencerian, Todd has spent his Saturdays at Spencerian tutoring new CADD students.
Todd finds tutoring to be meaningful and says he will continue as long as he is needed. Todd states, “I tutor for free and feel great about doing it. I am very proud of the students that I have helped and what they have accomplished since they have attended tutoring sessions. I really can not put into words the feeling that I get out of helping my past instructors and students with difficulties and sharing my knowledge from school and my professional job.”
Todd has been involved in many ways, beyond tutoring, since graduating. He has come as a guest speaker for the local chapter of Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and classes of CADD students where he shared the real world aspects of the profession. He is currently working with the CADD Department about developing a speech for orientation as motivation for new students so they will know what can be achieved with a CADD Degree. Most recently, Todd was filmed for an upcoming commercial for Spencerian to share his success with future students.
Despite all of his success in his professional life, his passion for other students and Spencerian always comes through. He is always the first to express his gratitude to the school and this appreciation is reflected in his unyielding dedication to helping up and coming CADD students. Todd has given a lot of time, energy and wisdom to Spencerian, Lexington and for that, and so much more, he has made his “family” very proud. |
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