The hallways at Fitchburg State University are familiar territory for Evan Pritchard. As a Maintainer I employee at the university, he knows the building’s rhythms, the quiet corners, and the physical labor required to keep a campus running. But on May 16, Pritchard will walk across a different part of campus—the commencement stage—to receive bachelor’s degrees in computer science and mathematics.
For Pritchard, the walk across that stage isn’t just a few yards; it is the culmination of a 20-year odyssey marked by adrenaline, personal reckoning, and an ironclad resolve to build a better life for his son. Pritchard has proven that while life may hit hard, it is how you persevere that defines the man.
Pritchard’s academic journey didn’t start at Fitchburg State. It began in 2004 at a community college in Pennsylvania, followed by a stint at Lehigh University. By his own admission, he wasn’t ready.
"I was caught up in the 'college experience' more than I was actual college," said Pritchard. "I failed pretty miserably."
What followed was a decade and a half of "navigating life," as he calls it—a period defined by the philosophy of carpe diem. He worked in construction, learning the trades of electrical work and plumbing. Then, he found the sky.
For years, Pritchard lived a life that sounded like a modern nomad's dream. As an FAA-certified parachute rigger, he traveled the country, living out of a tent at "dropzones" and calling the open air his office. He was a competitive canopy pilot, winning medals and chasing the next horizon. But beneath the thrill of a fast-paced lifestyle of the skydiving circuit, Pritchard felt himself devolving into someone less than he was meant to be.
The shift came in 2020. Upon moving to Massachusetts, Pritchard faced a sudden and profound life change: he was going to be a father.
"My son changed my life," said Pritchard.
The whirlwind of his previous years came to a definitive halt on May 2, 2020—the day he had his last drink of alcohol.
With sobriety came a new clarity of purpose. The nomadic life of a parachute rigger couldn't provide the stability he wanted for his family. He realized that education was the only viable bridge to the future he envisioned. He returned to his studies online, but as he neared the completion of his associate's degree, he hit a wall: he needed a way to fund a bachelor’s degree without drowning his family in debt.
Pritchard’s approach to Fitchburg State was as pragmatic as it was ambitious. When he saw a job posting for a maintainer position that included tuition remission, he didn't just see a paycheck, he saw a doorway.
"I applied post-haste," said Pritchard. "I got the interview and swore to be the best darn toilet scrubber they had, and was very clear about my intention to utilize the benefits of the position to continue my education."
He got the job. After the mandatory six-month waiting period, Pritchard enrolled full-time in school. But full-time for Pritchard meant something different to him. He began balancing a 40-hour work week with a staggering course load of 18 to 20 credits per semester.
While Pritchard spent his days maintaining the facilities of the university, his nights and breaks were spent immersed in the complex logic of computer science and the rigorous proofs of the mathematics department. To strengthen his competitive edge in the job market, he didn't just stick to one major—he doubled down and added math to his plate.
While Pritchard spent his days juggling both his workload and his course load over the first year and a half at Fitchburg State, in October of 2024, he managed to get transferred to night shift (4 p.m. to 12 a.m.) to better facilitate his coursework.
“This shift move was just another matter of taking steps to ensure I reach my goals,” said Pritchard.
I unabashedly asked for help and utilized my resources. Many of the support staff of the university were there to help me through issues, both big and small. I’ve been inspired by the students, who give me hope for a brighter future. Fitchburg State, and all of the people here, from the professors to my fellow maintainers, set me up to succeed.
Fitchburg State Custodial Services Manager Matthew O’Donoghue said that Pritchard possesses an extraordinary drive that is rarely seen.
“Since becoming a member of the Capital Planning and Maintenance team in December 2023, he has consistently demonstrated excellence as a high-performing, high-producing employee while simultaneously doing whatever it takes to replicate that same level of performance and productivity in the classroom,” said O’Donoghue. “Balancing a full-time work schedule with full-time coursework requires an immense amount of determination, time, and effort—qualities Evan exemplifies every day.
“Despite his demanding schedule, Evan always takes the time to offer a kind word and express genuine gratitude to those who have supported him throughout his journey at Fitchburg State University,” said O’Donoghue. “I am proud to count myself among his strongest supporters.
Evan Pritchard truly embodies the pride and spirit of Fitchburg State University.”
The path was never smooth, marked by personal upheaval. But giving up was not an option, and Pritchard found a supportive community as he pursued his ambitions.
“I unabashedly asked for help and utilized my resources,” said Pritchard. “Many of the support staff of the university were there to help me through issues, both big and small. I’ve been inspired by the students, who give me hope for a brighter future. Fitchburg State, and all of the people here, from the professors to my fellow maintainers, set me up to succeed.”
Peter Staab – the Chair of the Mathematics Department – said that ever since Pritchard emailed him in the summer of 2024, wanting to become a math major, he’s gotten to know him and his journey back to school.
“He's been taking a lot of classes each semester, somehow getting everything done,” said Staab. “I know of many students who struggle with either having a part-time job or a family and he's got it all and is still excelling.”
Stabb affectionately joked that Pritchard is informally known around the department as the Will Hunting, from the “Good Will Hunting” movie, of Fitchburg State.
“He's been a maintainer on campus for many years and often cleans up classrooms which have leftover mathematics on them and has told us he often played with the mathematics he found,” said Staab.
Grateful for the support he received, Pritchard began looking for ways to give back. He joined the university tutoring center, volunteering his time to help his peers—many of whom are half his age—navigate their own academic hurdles.
Pritchard is candid about the challenges he’s encountered, seeing them not as scars to be hidden but lessons to be shared.
"No single event defines a person," said Pritchard. "I believe that the measure of a person is how many people they lift up."
As graduation approaches, Pritchard stands as a testament to the Fitchburg State motto: Perseverantia.
He no longer lives by the impulsive "seize the day" mantra of his youth. Instead, he lives for the future, specifically, the future of his son who depends on him. Pritchard has transformed from a man living in a tent on a dropzone to an outstanding student, a dedicated university employee, and a role model for non-traditional students everywhere.
When Pritchard crosses the stage to receive his degrees in computer science and mathematics, he won't just be celebrating an academic achievement. He will be celebrating the end of a long journey home to the person he was always meant to be.
"Life is hard and giving up is so easy," said Pritchard. "But we are the product of the culmination of our decisions."
For Pritchard, the decision to work hard, sacrifice, and never give up has finally paid off.
And while he might tell you his story isn't too exciting, the faculty and students who have watched him soar would politely disagree.