Sponsorship launches student's career from classroom to coast of Brazil
All the way from Fox Harbour, Nova Scotia, four-time NSCC grad Jonah Pye stepped onto the HOS Brass Ring offshore vessel in Brazil and was ready to put his learning to the test. A journey made possible by support from NSCC’s donors and industry partners.
Jonah, a 2025 graduate of the Marine Geomatics program at NSCC’s Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS), was a recipient of the UTEC Sponsor-a-Student Opportunity. This partnership offered both financial support and a five-week work placement with one of the world's largest independent surveying companies.
"This sponsorship supported my studies by investing in me so I didn't have to feel the worry of paying my tuition for the program," Jonah explains. "It gave me motivation and encouragement to study harder, obtain goals and it made me feel more connected to the career I was working towards."
Focusing on learning, not finances
Jonah is no stranger to NSCC, having already completed NSCC’s Electronic Engineering Technician, Survey Technician and Geomatics Engineering Technology programs. Receiving a sponsorship like UTEC’s for the Marine Geomatics program allowed him to concentrate on developing his skills rather than managing tuition or securing a work placement.
"It made my journey through this program a lot more manageable than going through without this sponsorship," he says. But the value extended beyond financial support. The ability to connect with employers in the industry and explore career possibilities was a motivator for Jonah to apply, which proved invaluable during his five-week placement.
Jonah’s placement went "extremely well," he says, during which he was placed on a vessel for field camp training. Working alongside experienced professionals, he applied classroom theory to real-world situations, using the same software he learned at NS CC, giving him the advantage of knowing how to troubleshoot it and when to ask for help.
A highlight Jonah mentions near the end of the placement is the team’s discovery of a shipwreck on local nautical maps. After finishing their required data collection, they captured images using side scan sonar and multibeam technology. "It was really cool to see the live data of the ship, and after processing some of the data," Jonah recalls.
From work placement to career
That experience led directly to full-time employment. UTEC hired Jonah as an offshore surveyor immediately after graduation on the HOS Brass Ring offshore vessel, drilling for core samples off the coast of Brazil and providing opportunities to further develop his skills on projects around the world.
"Continuing to work as an offshore surveyor for such an amazing company really feels great," says Jonah. "This sponsorship has impacted my career by giving me opportunities with industry partners to help build my skills, gain a lot of hands-on experience and connect with many people."
Sponsoring NSCC students
Alumni like Jonah are incredibly grateful for donor-funded programs like NSCC’s Sponsor-a-Student program. “By sponsoring someone, they can build a good connection with them and make them a part of their team with all the valuable skills the student has learned in the program,” says Jonah, reflecting on his experience.
For students who are considering applying for a Sponsor-a-Student opportunity, Jonah says, "Absolutely apply. It will help you focus more on your studies, worry less about finances, build a connection with employers while still in school and show them you are interested in that career."
To learn more about the Sponsor-a-Student program and supporting students like Jonah, please contact Ben Trenaman at .
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