MARIETTA— The Army had little influence on the career choice of Washington State College of Ohio’s Student of the Month Cody Fulks. It has, however, played a vital role when it comes to both his professional and academic performance because of his ability to effectively lean in on the values instilled in him by the military.
After serving three and a half years as a Specialist, Fulks finished his time in the Army and began working for Marathon Petroleum in Oak Hill, Ohio. He started at the bottom working as a deckhand aboard a marine vessel and credited his military experience with playing a pivotal role in shaping that part of his career. However, it was the values the military instilled in him that helped him advance. “The discipline, attention to detail, mindset, and adaptability instilled in me helped me move within the company from deckhand to vessel engineer to dock operator,” Fulks detailed. When his career plateaued in his current role, he realized he needed college if he wanted to continue to climb the ladder.
That realization led him to Washington State where he happened to connect with a fellow Veteran, WSCO Assistant Professor Chris Carpenter who heads up the Chemical Operator and Process Technician programs. “He sold me on the school,” said Fulks. “His professionalism and vast knowledge of the courses I would attend left me with nothing but good feelings about the institution.”
Carpenter is likewise impressed with Fulks. “Cody displays incredible persistence and overall academic achievement. He skillfully balances a full-time job, keeps up with his family, and maintains his commitment to his class work. His military background is apparent from the effort and determination he displays in the classroom,” Carpenter complimented.
Fulks will earn his Chemical Operator certificate in December and continue working toward his Process Technician associate degree.
