Westwood College Students Create a Path to Job Success in a Challenging Economy

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Westwood College students are taking control of their futures by building career plans while in school that provide a clear path to future success, instead of attempting to land just any job upon graduation. Westwood is promoting this way of thinking through its PATH to Success scholarship program. This year, 53 exceptional students from across Westwood’s 14 campuses and online school were awarded a total of more than $70,000 in scholarships. Each scholarship winner demonstrated forethought and the ability to develop a clear plan for finding work in their field of study after college.

“In creating their individual paths to success, Lovett and the other award winners are using many of the primary strategies and skills we provide to our students and we are thrilled to see the results.”

The 2012 Platinum Scholarship worth $10,000 was awarded to Eric Lovett, a graphic design student at the Atlanta Midtown Campus. According to Lovett, he went from hitting bottom to finding the entry point to his path to success while playing Angry Birds. “I was unemployed and knew that I had to find something to do pretty fast. So, here I am playing Angry Birds when a Westwood icon pops up on my phone. After that, I was noticing Westwood College ads on my computer. It was like a good omen!”

Not one to let a good omen go to waste, Lovett called Westwood, took a tour of the campus, and based on his interests in video games and creating game art, was directed into the graphic design program. The next week he started classes.

Once this former actor, barber and bartender committed to going to school, he took it seriously. “I bought a notebook for every class, took detailed notes on everything that was said and went home and studied what I’d written down,” Lovett said.

Lovett attends Westwood full time and as part of the career plan he crafted, obtained an internship at Sleepy Eyes Filmworks where he’s getting hands-on experience as a cameraman, producer and director. He’s also benefitting from the contacts he’s made. “I’ve been able to network and gain career advice from big-league designers,” he comments.

“I see my future unfolding well. My advice to others is to network, take advantage of the expertise Westwood offers in terms of bringing in individuals and companies to the campus, and come up with a plan that will provide a blueprint for your future.”

According to John Keim, provost and chief academic officer at Westwood, “Lovett and the rest of the PATH to success scholarships award winners all have what it takes to get where they want to be in the workplace. We established this program because we want students to know that what they do outside classroom walls is just as important as what happens within them,” said Keim. “In creating their individual paths to success, Lovett and the other award winners are using many of the primary strategies and skills we provide to our students and we are thrilled to see the results.”

In 2012, 443 Westwood College students wrote essays in an effort to earn a PATH to Success scholarship. In addition to the platinum scholarship, three PATH to Success scholarships were awarded at each Westwood campus (Gold - $2,000; Silver - $1,000; Bronze - $500) and three scholarships in each category were awarded at the Online Campus. For a list of the winners by state and by campus, go to www.westwood.edu.

About Westwood College

Westwood College is an institution of higher learning with 14 campuses located in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois and Virginia. Westwood offers a hands-on, career-focused curriculum in fields such as healthcare, technology and business. Westwood is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). A 2012 survey conducted by Noel-Levitz showed Westwood students are significantly more satisfied than the comparison group of approximately 125 public and private colleges, particularly in the areas of course content, quality of instruction and the school meeting their career goals. For more information, visit westwood.edu.