Chaffey Student Pursuing Degree on the Open Road
For 11 hours a day, Justin Boultwood sits behind the wheel of an 18-wheel tractor trailer hauling at least 80,000 pounds of freight across the contiguous U.S.
When he settles in for the night, he climbs into his truck cabin and logs on for his Chaffey College classes to study and do assignments. The business administration major plans to either pursue a career in management with the California Highway Patrol or run his own heavy-duty towing business.
“I’d like to pursue a career that can support all my goals in life,” he said.
He’s one of a growing number of Chaffey students choosing to pursue his academic goals remotely. Chaffey College’s online education program serves tens of thousands of students every year, with more than 31,000 students taking at least one online course in the 2024-2025 academic year alone.
Boultwood grew up in Upland and graduated from Damien High School in La Verne in 2021. He enrolled in Chaffey classes at the time, but drifted away from college when his father became sick and then died.
“I stopped taking classes,” he said. “I kind of let everything slip away.”
Professor of Business Thierry Brusselle reached out when Boultwood stopped appearing for his classes, expressing concern for his wellbeing. He got the chance to thank his professor a couple years later when Brusselle stopped in at the Claremont Club gym where Boultwood worked at the time.
Boultwood turned his attention to the CHP Explorer Program, hoping to launch a career in law enforcement. But despite applying for a position as an officer, he did not get the job.
He gathered himself together, spent the next several months going to truck driving school and landed a job with Melton Truck Lines.
“I do enjoy driving – it’s always been something I’ve enjoyed,” he said. “The only drawback is being on the road because I’m away from my family.”
That’s when he decided to give education another try.
He bought a Starlink satellite device and plan when he discovered that his cell service was spotty at some of his stops. Now he can access the portal every day, rather than run the risk of being late to turn in an assignment.
“His commitment and adaptability highlight how online education can meet students wherever they are—both personally and geographically,” Brusselle said.
Students from all walks of life use remote classes as a way to continue learning while maintaining their professions. Chaffey College alumnus Aadil Bedi, a professional golfer from Rancho Cucamonga, takes classes while traveling the world for tournaments. He earned an associate’s degree in kinesiology in 2023 and is now pursuing a degree in interior design to complement the construction company he runs in India. He expects to compete in 20 tournaments in the coming year.
“I am truly grateful to Chaffey College for supporting my online education,” he said.
Brusselle also taught Lorena Betancourt Madrid’s online global business course in spring 2024. Betancourt had previously earned a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and was completing her paralegal degree from Bogota, Colombia, to further advance her career.
“Stories like Lorena’s, Aadil’s and Justin’s really show that while online learning isn’t the best fit for everyone, it can be a transformative opportunity for many of our students who don’t always live within a fixed geographic radius of our campus,” Brusselle said.
