Each Wednesday we are sharing the stories of outstanding students who began their college education while still in high school. Today we introduce you to Trenton Hoyt.
Trenton Hoyt is an 11th grade student at Phoenix High School who takes classes on the Onondaga Community College campus four days a week. He's part of the P-TECH program, working toward a Mechanical Technology degree. "I'm a lot further ahead than my friends who didn't choose P-TECH. It's given me a huge head start."
P-TECH stands for Pathways in Technology Early College High School. The program provides high school students a tuition-free way to earn their high school diploma and associate degree simultaneously, and ultimately a pathway to an in-demand job. "I realized the free college was really a huge benefit. I chose Mechanical Technology because it was more hands-on."
Hoyt has been working with his hands since a young age. He works with his father at his business, Nick Hoyt Heating & AC in Pennellville. His other jobs include loading trap houses at a gun club, on farms when they need help loading bails of hay, and around homes doing odd jobs.
He could have completed his high school diploma and college degree within a month of each other in 2026, but decided to take several Business classes which will keep him on campus an extra semester. "I wanted to at least have a base structure on how to run a business. My father always told me there was a lot of money in any trade. Working in HVAC with him is all of the trades combined; plumbing, electrical, and heating."
