Two graduates from the class of 2013 have been honored as Effingham County’s 2012-13 work-based learning students of the year.

Ruby DeRouen is South Effingham High School’s recipient and Mallory Ansel is Effingham County High’s honoree.

The awards were announced at the Effingham County School System’s Career, Technical and Agricultural Education Advisory Committee meeting recently at the Effingham College and Career Academy.

DeRouen was in the work-based learning program at South Effingham High School from June 2011-May 2013. She completed nearly 1,500 hours in the WBL program as an employee of Gulfstream Aerospace’s finance department.

DeRouen completed her small business development pathway at SEHS and was an active member of the Future Business Leaders of America student organization, holding the title of reporter/historian. She is currently attending East Georgia College and majoring in business.

Ansel began in the ECHS work-based learning program in the summer before her senior year. She participated in the youth apprenticeship program at Gulfstream and worked with flight safety in the total technical training department.

Ansel completed the health care pathway at ECHS, but the apprenticeship helped her realize she wanted a career in business instead. She now works full-time at Gulfstream as a maintenance training scheduler while attending St. Leo’s University two nights a week to pursue business management.

Being involved in the WBL program “changed my whole outlook on life,” Ansel said. “Now I am 100 percent confident that I will be extremely successful in life.”