It is a record-setting year at Fox Valley Technical College, as 109 construction and industrial apprentices received Tools of the Trade (TOTT) scholarships from Ascendium.

Each apprentice will receive $2,000 to use toward the purchase of equipment, tools, clothing, tuition and other supplies needed to help them complete the required education and training.

FVTC offers 21 different apprenticeship pathways. During the 2022-23 academic year, the college had 1,705 students, making FVTC number one in the WTCS for apprentice enrollments. Those students were sponsored by 508 different employers throughout Wisconsin.

“We are incredibly proud of this year's record number of TOTT scholarship recipients,” says Garrett Kaminski, associate dean of Manufacturing, Agriculture and Construction Technologies. “FVTC has a long-standing reputation of providing exceptional education to our apprentices in numerous industries. The number of scholarship recipients this year is a testament to the amount of growth our apprenticeship programs have seen and continue to see.”

Participation in apprenticeship programs at all WTCS colleges has also increased by about 19% over the past five years. Additionally, 97% of employed apprentices have continued working in Wisconsin, creating a steady talent pipeline for local employers.

In most cases, an apprenticeship consists of the employer paying the cost of education for the apprentice and time spent in classroom-related education. However, financial pressure can make it hard for many learners to complete apprenticeships, especially if they are juggling school, work and family. Ascendium, a nonprofit organization committed to making education and training beyond high school obtainable, has provided more than $5 million in scholarships over the past 11 years through its Tools of the Trade Scholarship Program.