Twenty apprentices at Fox Valley Technical College received scholarships to help complete their training from the Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates. In all, Great Lakes awarded 200 Wisconsin construction and industrial apprentices with scholarships to cover the cost of equipment, expensive tools, and clothing. It was the fifth year the organization distributed the financial awards for state apprentices.

The highly successful Tools of the Trade Apprenticeship Scholarship program gifted a record $300,000 in Wisconsin for 2018. With the ever-present demand for skilled employees, federal and state lawmakers are focusing on apprenticeship as a tool to meet the need. Most apprenticeship programs combine up to five years of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Wages are modest and financial aid options are limited.

“The support that apprentices get from the Tools of the Trade scholarship program provides a timely and relevant boost,” says Mike Cattelino, manager of apprenticeship training at FVTC. “Balancing life with full-time work and school is a unique challenge in the apprenticeship education pathway. These scholarships relieve some of those stresses.”

Each apprentice received $1,500. The following is the list of FVTC Great Lakes apprentice scholarship recipients:

• Alex Blair, Industrial Electrician
• Samuel Bollen, Machinist/Tool & Die/Patternmaker
• Hannah Buros, Machinist/Tool & Die/Patternmaker
• Eric Erb, Maintenance Mechanic/Machine Repair/Millwright
• Pace Faskell, Pipe Fabricator
• Thomas Heagle, Jr., Metal Fabricator/Welder
• Nicholas King, Electrical
• Thomas Klein, Electrical
• Brandon Korth, Electrical
• Jason Kunstman, Maintenance Technician
• Joshua Olson, Electrical
• Andrew Peterson, Construction Electrician
• Brett Petrashek, Pipe Fabricator
• Samuel Running, Electrical
• Mike Ryan, Industrial Electrician  
• Randell Smith, Maintenance Mechanic/Machine Repair/Millwright
• Todd St. John, Maintenance Mechanic/Machine Repair/Millwright
• Matthew Timler, Electrical
• Matt Van Thiel, Electrical
• Dan Wydeyen, Machinist/Tool & Die/Patternmaker

Congratulations!

Learn more about apprenticeships offered at Fox Valley Technical College >>