From PWSC to the Field: Ian Lingard Builds on their Natural Resources and Outdoor Leadership Experience
by Vicki Heisser |
One of the best parts of working at Prince William Sound College is hearing what our
students do after they leave campus.
We recently heard from Ian Lingard about how the summer has been going.
This summer, Ian is working as the Lead Plants Program Technician for the upriver
area with the Copper River Watershed Project based in Glennallen, Alaska. Ian earned a Natural Resources Technician Occupational
Endorsement Certificate (OEC) at Prince William Sound College and is continuing in
the Outdoor Leadership program while completing their internship through this position.
Ian’s experience at PWSC has helped prepare them for this work in different ways.
Through the Natural Resources Technician OEC, Ian gained hands-on experience in conservation,
field ecology, Alaska’s natural systems, and natural resource management. The program
also connected them with professionals and organizations working in the field.
Their Outdoor Leadership coursework has added another layer to that experience, helping
them develop skills in communication, teamwork, leadership, and working with people
in outdoor settings.
In their current position, Ian’s work includes removing invasive plants, surveying
native seed collection sites, coordinating invasive species projects, and educating
community members across the Copper River Basin. Their summer has included rafting
the Copper River to remove invasive plants, working with the Wrangell Mountain Center
in McCarthy, and helping teach families at Gulkana Airport Day about preventing the
spread of invasive species.
Ian recently sent an update to Outdoor Leadership instructor Benjamin Rush.
“I have the most fantastic job.”
Ian also shared how their Outdoor Leadership experience has carried over into their
work.
“Overall, the skills I've learned in Outdoor Leadership have come in handy here—more
so than I thought. I find that even when I'm in the field, I'm working around enough
people to still need to do community outreach, and there's a lot more leadership and
coordination in this job than I ever expected.”
It is rewarding to see students take what they learn at PWSC and apply it in the field.
Ian’s experience is a great example of how hands-on learning, relationships with professionals,
and opportunities to gain real-world experience can help students move from the classroom
into meaningful work across Alaska.