Little did Ian Webb of Beulaville know that when he started at Lenoir Community College he would end up with a full-time employment opportunity before he graduated.

Webb enrolled in the Industrial Systems Program in the spring of 2019. He finished his major coursework and started working at MasterBrand to fulfil his Work-Based Learning (WBL) requirements. WBL provides students the opportunity to earn college credit for jobs that are learning experiences. Jobs must be related to the curriculum in which students are enrolled. Once he completed that requirement, MasterBrand offered Webb full time employment.

“He has consistently been one of the highest performing and most dedicated students in my program throughout his time here,” LCC Industrial Systems Program Chair Stephen Edwards said. “Those are the reasons I selected him for the opportunity at Masterbrand. Ian is a hard worker and a quick learner.”

“We have been very happy with him and I’m sure he’ll grown into a top technician,” said Ted Behrendt, maintenance supervisor at MasterBrand. “Because of the success of this (WBL) program, I would like to fill his intern position in hopes to gain another potential technician.”

Webb said he decided to go into the Industrial Systems program after meeting Edwards. “He had been told I was kind of a tinkerer, and I was looking for something I could go to school for that would allow me to learn some interesting skills, specifically electronics, welding, and machining.”

“My favorite parts of the program were the mechanical and machining classes, he said. “They were fun and insightful.”

He said working at MasterBrand as an intern presented many learning opportunities. “I gained a lot of knowledge from the more experienced individuals I worked with. I am excited about continuing to work with MasterBrand.”

Webb said that LCC is preparing him for his next steps. “Learning at LCC has helped me focus myself and work on planning out my future and the things I would like to accomplish,” he said. “It has given me a lot of knowledge and opened doors to continue to my next steps.”

He plans to graduate in the fall of 2020 and pursue an engineering degree in the future. “College can help you achieve the knowledge and certifications you need to get your foot in the door and start your career,” he said. “The instructors can also give you pointers that can be very useful once you get into your career from their experience. It also takes hard work and perseverance.”