54-year-old custodian graduates from college he once cleaned, lands engineering job with aerospace company

It took nearly a decade for Michael Vaudreuil to earn his degree while cleaning the campus

Worcester Polytechnic Institute/Facebook

The story did not end when a Massachusetts man, who worked as a custodian at the very school he attended, graduated college this summer. Only a month later, he has landed the job of his dreams in the aerospace engineering industry.

Michael Vaudreuil, 54, took advantage of the free tuition package when he took a custodial job at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) after losing his plastering business in the 2008 economic collapse. Upon his May 2016 graduation, the story went viral, and he was featured in a segment on NBC Nightly News.

Michael Vaudreuil graduated from WPI in May 2016 (Michael Vaudreuil/Facebook)

“I was certainly welcoming of [the media attention], because I thought it would help networking-wise,” Mr Vaudreuil told the WPI school paper, The Daily Herd. “To the degree that it took off was a bit surprising. It was almost an out-of-body experience. You see this happen, things go viral - now it’s happening to me.”

After his segment aired on the news programme, Mr Vaudreuil said he was approached by four representatives from the Pratt & Whitney aerospace manufacturer separately. While Mr Vaudreuil was approached by companies all over the US, that Pratt & Whitney valued life experience, he says, spoke to the culture of the company.

“I’m going to quote one of my favorite movies - they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” he said, referencing The Godfather. “I’m looking forward to the satisfaction and fulfillment that will come with the job.”

While the custodial and engineering positions may seem like a night and day leap for Mr Vaudreuil, he had always had an interest in engineering. He first received his associate’s degree in 1982 in aeronautical engineering, but did not pursue work in that field, according to the Washington Post. Instead, he ran his own plastering company until business died in 2007.

He reportedly took a 50 per cent pay cut once he found the job at WPI, and felt taking advantage of the tuition-free courses would be a positive supplement to his income.

Mr Vaudreuil will relocate with his family to Connecticut and begin his position as engineer for Pratt & Whitney on 11 July.

Until then, however, he will continue his custodial job through the month of June.