March 21, 2018 – Washington Co., WI – Fourteen Moraine Park Technical College apprentices were recently awarded “Tools of the Trade” scholarships from Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates.
Receiving $1,500 scholarships were John Blanchard of West Bend, Robert Boelkes of Mt. Horeb, Jacob Carpenter of Hartford, Eric Chilson of West Bend, Bruce Culver of Green Lake, Kyle Czerniejewski of West Bend, Dylan Feutz of Mayville, Joey Hannes of Fond du Lac, Dylan Jentges of Belgium, John Neighbours of Belgium, Jason Pickering of Campbellsport, Daniel Reineke of Plymouth, Tyree Starlin of Cottage Grove and Eric Stone of Random Lake.
Great Lakes’ scholarships are designed, in part, to help combat a growing need by employers for skilled workers. Construction and industrial trades jobs are projected to grow 10 percent or more through 2024, according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.
To help meet this need, Moraine Park and Wisconsin’s other technical colleges instruct apprentices in the theory and practice of these highly skilled occupations. But for apprentices struggling to make ends meet, the cost of something as basic as a pair of steel-toed boots can stand in the way of program completion.
Some apprentices juggle work, school and family obligations, and their modest wages are often not enough to cover equipment, clothing and tools for their trades. And even if they qualify for financial aid, it might fall short of their need.
Great Lakes scholarships have supported Wisconsin apprentices with financial need since 2013 when the Tools of the Trade Apprentice Scholarship program was created. Since the program was launched, 38 Moraine Park apprentices have received scholarships from Great Lakes.
“We are optimistic that the program will be just as beneficial to the 200 technical college students who received scholarships this year as those in previous years,” said Richard D. George, President and Chief Executive Officer of Great Lakes. “We’re proud to help Wisconsin’s hardworking apprentices build brighter futures.”
The 14 Moraine Park students receiving scholarships this year are in the electrical, carpentry and tool and die technology apprentices.
For more information on Moraine Park scholarships, visit morainepark.edu/scholarships.
