Matthew Smith, a former Whitewater High School student, recently reached out to the school system’s coordinator of work-based learning, Melanie Duncan, to show his appreciation for the lessons he learned through the program, and to share how the program has helped him in reaching his career goals.
While attending Whitewater High, Smith was a part of the work-based learning program, which provides an opportunity for students to develop a variety of skills by expanding the walls of classroom learning to include a structured work experience that is based on students’ individual career goals/pathway. Matthew completed the engineering pathway.
Through the program, Smith had the opportunity to intern at MOBA Mobile Automation, a company located in Peachtree City that develops and manufactures custom components and application-oriented premium system solutions.
During his internship at MOBA, Smith used the skills he learned in the classroom and applied them to the company’s engineering projects, “I feel like the coursework I got from Whitewater High helped me with my diligence towards assignments and hard-working skills at MOBA, especially when I had to make process maps for the company in my second semester. “
Now a student at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Smith is currently interning at GE Aviation, a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, “Having an engineering internship in high school helped me to stand out in my university and to other engineering companies looking for college interns. The skills and experience I gained from MOBA helped me land an internship with GE Aviation at an early stage in my college career.”
Smith’s mother credits much of her son’s college success to his time in the work-based learning program, “The work-based learning program has really opened doors for Matthew. Companies could not believe he had such experience under his belt. I’m so thankful for the training and skills he received during his time in the program.”
Smith plans to graduate with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Mechanical Engineering specializing in robotics and hopes to achieve two goals: to develop a device to assist people in natural disasters and advance transportation in an eco-friendly way.
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