Members of the Class of 2024 and Class of 2025 returned to their alma mater on January 8 to take part in Monticello High School’s inaugural College and Career Talk, organized and facilitated by the district’s Guidance Department. 

The alumni represented a wide range of post-secondary pathways, including community college, SUNY institutions, private colleges, transfer programs and union careers. Among the college students on the panel were majors spanning fields such as pre-law, nursing and aerospace engineering.

While their educational paths varied, the panelists shared one important connection: they were sitting in the very same classrooms as their audience just one or two years ago. That recent experience made them especially relatable to current juniors and seniors and allowed them to offer timely, practical insight into the transition from high school to college and career.

Because the panelists are currently navigating college life themselves, they were able to go beyond a traditional presentation and share advice grounded in firsthand experience. From financial aid and scholarships to dorm living and campus life, students heard details that are not always covered in standard college presentations.

When financial aid was discussed, panelists shared not only how to budget and research opportunities, but also specific information about local scholarships and the websites that proved most helpful in their own searches. 

When the conversation turned to residence halls, they spoke candidly about roommate challenges, ways to resolve conflicts, and what to expect when living on campus. Throughout the 90-minute discussion, they offered practical tips such as building relationships with professors, carefully reviewing course syllabi, and even how befriending the dorm’s custodial staff can lead to a sneak peak of the bathroom cleaning schedule, which in turn can help ensure the most sterile shower possible, in a bathroom serving 20-30 people.

The strong engagement continued right up until dismissal, with many students waiting in line to ask additional questions and others staying after school to speak with the panelists one-on-one.

The alumni who participated include:

Joseph Campbell

Yura Kilochko

Alex Cushing

Sean Clearwater

Elijah Cuadrado

Morris Germann

Belle Zhou

Diego Ferrer

Joshua Miller

Christopher Pinto