17 graduates complete innovative three-year program combining academic excellence with immersive, on-mountain industry experience
Killington, VT — At the base lodge of the East Coast’s largest ski resort, seventeen graduates crossed the stage Saturday, marking the latest milestone for one of New England’s most distinctive higher education partnerships between Killington Resort and Vermont State University (VTSU). The Resort & Hospitality Management (RHM) program class of 2026 received their diplomas on June 20, 2026, at Killington Resort’s K-1 Lodge.
The seventeen graduates completed the three-year program this spring, eleven of whom have already secured jobs at Killington Resort. Collectively, the class completed 680 courses, achieved an impressive 3.58 average GPA, gained extensive professional experience across 59 different job titles, and contributed 38,702 hours of work, all while skiing a combined 2,019 days.
“These graduates are the next generation of leaders in the resort and hospitality industries,” said Kristel Killary, Assistant Professor and RHM Program Coordinator at Vermont State University. “What makes this program, and its graduates extraordinary is the depth of real-world, hands-on experience students gain alongside their academic coursework. By the time they graduate, they are prepared and proven.”
Delivered entirely in-person at Killington, the VTSU RHM program offers a fast-track, three-year path to a Bachelor of Science that integrates classroom learning with at least three paid work experiences at the resort. Students live and learn in the heart of the industry, gaining hands-on exposure to resort operations, leadership development, financial management, marketing, and guest services. Many take on supervisory roles before graduation, furthering the experience they bring to the field following graduation.
“This program has been essential to building and sustaining Killington’s workforce,” said Mike Solimano, president and CEO of Killington Resort. “It serves as a critical pipeline for developing highly skilled and motivated professionals who are ready to contribute from day one. Many of our current team members and leaders have come through this program, including two members of my own leadership team, and its impact on our resort community can be seen every day through the people it brings to our team.”
Close mentorship from university faculty and resort leadership ensures graduates leave with robust professional networks and a deep understanding of the evolving hospitality landscape. They are all well positioned to advance quickly within the industry.
“There truly is no classroom like Killington,” Killary added. “Our students graduate with both the confidence and competence to lead — whether on a mountain, in a hotel, or anywhere in the global hospitality sector.”
To learn more about Vermont State University’s Resort & Hospitality Management program, please visit: https://vermontstate.edu/academic-programs/resort-hospitality-management-bs/