Tom was one of the first 12 students to begin his studies when UCV started. Venlo was a logical choice for him. "I was looking for a study on nutrition and health that went beyond food technology, for example, but examined nutrition as a whole. UCV provided such an opportunity. I lived in Roermond, so Venlo was nearby. After six months, I moved to Venlo because of my contact with my fellow students. Since I also pursued a master's degree in Health Food Innovation Management at Venlo following UCV, I experienced how student life in the city expanded year after year."

"At UCV, you can glimpse behind the scenes of other fields of science by taking courses in a variety of disciplines. You do not have to select a specialisation right away. This will help you discover more about yourself and what interests you, allowing you to explore further into the topics that inspire you. If you are curious about all of the possibilities in nutrition, UCV is an excellent choice."

Tom currently works as a Quality Assurance Adviser for beverage maker Refresco. His broad education at UCV enables him to contribute to the company in a variety of ways. "This includes everything from formulating soft drinks to putting them into manufacturing. Developing quality control and risk inventory is also part of it," he says, citing a few examples of his work. "We evaluate ingredients with health claims, such as vitamins. How do you formulate the soft drink so that the consumer can absorb the vitamins? What effect does it have on health, and what can you state on the label? The introduction of a deposit on beverage cans also kept Tom busy: "The demand for soft drinks in plastic bottles has increased enormously, which is why we are now thinking about more sustainable bottles."

Being able to think along with all departments within the company is one of the most important skills Tom acquired at UCV. “You learn to look at problems from all kinds of angles and solve them. As a result, I can now consider solutions for our company from the perspectives of management, sales, and manufacturing."

Just before the first group of twelve UCV students graduated, they stripped the university flag from the building. "At our graduation ceremony, we returned the flag with a message from each of us to UCV."