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News From
The Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology
For further information please contact:
Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology
c/o Mystic Seaport
PO Box 6000
75 Greenmanville Avenue
Mystic, CT 06355 USA
Tel: 860-572-7900
Fax: 860-572-7939
Email: westlawn@abycinc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WESTLAWN COURSEWORK COMPLEMENTS ENGINEERING SKILLS
FOR MARINE DESIGNER
For David Pugh, a degree in mechanical engineering was a big step
toward achieving his goal of a career in the marine industry, but
as he evaluated his options after graduating, he identified a missing
element.
"The idea of combining the analytical aspects of engineering
with the aesthetic elements of product design was very appealing
to me," recalls Pugh, "and led me to broaden my education
with additional coursework in yacht design." A search through
consumer boating magazines led him to the Westlawn Institute of
Marine Technology, an institution of distance education headquartered
in Stamford, Conn. Pugh then contacted a number of marine designers
and engineers for their opinions on the value of a Westlawn education;
their favorable comments convinced him to sign on for the school's
Yacht Design Course.
The Westlawn study program, Pugh confirms, was challenging. "Completing
a course of study at home takes discipline and hard work," says
Pugh, "and admittedly I was a little apprehensive about the
ultimate value of long-distance learning."
His concerns were quickly laid to rest. "The course content
was very engaging and stimulating," Pugh says. "Text
materials presented the subject matter in a logical, understandable
sequence, and the instructors were accessible and responsive to
questions that came up while I was completing assignments, so the
learning was consistent and rewarding." At a pace of 15 to
20 hours each week, Pugh's coursework spanned two years. "By
1995 I was well into the fourth and final module when I learned
through the Westlawn administration that Bayliner Marine Corporation
was looking for a development engineer, Pugh recalls. "I applied
for the job and was hired prior to completing the Westlawn course."
Today, as a senior development engineer for Maxum Yachts, Pugh
credits his Westlawn experience with fulfilling his goal of combining
the physical disciplines of engineering with the creative processes
of product concept and design. And the learning continues to deliver
value to this day. "The Westlawn course was thoroughly grounded
in the real world, and has been truly relevant to my work," he
says. "I still refer to my Westlawn text material to help
resolve a variety of design issues that come up on a daily basis."
While I regret having stopped short of completing the Yacht Design
Course-the job offer at Bayliner was simply too great an opportunity-I
consider my Westlawn experience to be invaluable," says Pugh, "a
major factor in enabling me to build my career."
Located in Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Connecticut, the Westlawn Institute
of Marine Technology offers specialized education to students throughout
North America and worldwide. The school, an affiliate of the American
Boat & Yacht Council, is approved by the Connecticut Department
of Higher Education, and accredited by the Distance Education and
Training Council.