A record 111 Mid-State Technical College construction and industrial trade apprentices received Tools of the Trade scholarships from Ascendium this year. Each apprentice received $2,000 to use toward the purchase of equipment, tools, clothing, tuition and other needs to help them complete the required education and training for their trade.
Apprenticeships pair on-the-job training with classroom instruction, allowing individuals to “earn while they learn.” They offer an alternative pathway to a family-sustaining career in an in-demand field and a solution to employers who face shortages of skilled labor.
Over the last 12 years, Ascendium has provided over $6 million in scholarships through its Tools of the Trade Scholarship Program. Apprentices are eligible to apply for a scholarship if they are enrolled at a Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) college and receiving credit for both fall and spring semesters, are enrolled in an eligible construction or industrial trade and demonstrate a financial need.
In most cases, the employer pays the cost of education for the apprentice and pays for the time spent in classroom-related education, but other financial pressures can make it hard for many learners to complete apprenticeships, especially if they are juggling school, work and family. Ascendium’s Tools of the Trade Scholarship Program aims to help apprentices overcome financial barriers so they can focus on continuing and completing their apprenticeship and secure a job in an in-demand field.
“As a former apprentice, I understand firsthand the challenges of balancing travel, coursework and long hours—and how those demands can affect success,” said Mid-State’s Apprenticeship Advisor & Pathways Navigator Cole Schmidt. “I have immense respect for the dedication Mid-State’s apprentices show in pursuing their careers and am grateful for our partnership with Ascendium in supporting, funding and advancing the future of the skilled trades.
Working closely with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards, WTCS develops programs to meet employer needs and provides classroom instruction for apprenticeship programs in industrial, construction and other sectors. Their recently released Apprenticeship Completion report details further insight into the power of apprenticeships to change lives by providing a pathway to upward mobility. Based on a survey in fall 2023, individuals who received an apprenticeship completion certificate from a WTCS college in 2022–2023 reported earning an annual median salary of $96,733. Additionally, 96 percent of apprentices reported that they were still working in the state after completing their program.
Mid-State’s apprenticeship programs include Arborist, Carpenter, Construction Electrician (ABC), Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA), Electrical & Instrumentation Technician, Ironworker, Machinist, Maintenance Technician, Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic, Plumber, and Steamfitter and Steamfitter Service.
Following are the Mid-State apprentices awarded a 2024–2025 Tools of the Trade Apprentice Scholarship. Cities are in Wisconsin unless otherwise indicated.
Cody Alexander – Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic – Bancroft
Sawyer Ambelang – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Marshfield
Carson Baguhn – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Merrill
Dylan Baird – Steamfitter – Arpin
Riland Timothy Baker – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Rhinelander
Dylan Bassuener – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Wisconsin Rapids
Dalton Bembenek – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Eland
Eli Bentley – Carpentry – Stevens Point
Dustin Bergman – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Stanley
Carson Bernarde – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Marshfield
Gavin Blanton – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Amherst
Tragen Bogdonovich – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Greenwood
Matthew Bohman – Plumber – Auburndale
Alexander Boyd – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Wisconsin Rapids
Christopher Braun – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Weyauwega
Piper Brey – Machinist – Wisconsin Rapids
Gunner Burgau – Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic – Taylor
Spencer Buskager – Construction Electrician (ABC) – St. Germain
Luke Carpenter Jr. – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Plover
Vincent Casetta – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Bryant
Andrew Christenson – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Conover
Jarek Czerwinski – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Wausau
Derek Dehlinger – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Marshfield
Caden Dennee – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Marshfield
Jesse Dickmann – Carpenter – Stratford
Alex Dittrich – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Medford
Alex Edwards – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Chetek
Andrew Fedie – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Durand
David Flury – Machinist – Plover
Sevrin Frisch – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Marshfield
Jerin Fuehrer – Steamfitter – Wisconsin Rapids
Blake Furger – Steamfitter Service – Stratford
Zach Geldernick – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Marshfield
Jakob Glodowski – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Plover
Lacey Goffin – Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic – Nekoosa
Trustin Goldberg – Plumber – Wisconsin Rapids
Evan Groshek – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Mosinee
Riley Hackbarth – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Mosinee
Nicholas Hahner – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Kronenwetter
Erustus Hallas – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Rhinelander
Erik Hanneman – Maintenance Technician – Plover
William Hannemann – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Wausau
Jeremy Havlovic – Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic – Nekoosa
Niko Hewitt – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Wakefield, Mich.
Dylan Hoff – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Eau Claire
Patrick Huebner – Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic – Marshfield
Talon Jacobson – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Pittsville
Carter Jensen – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Merrill
Preston Jensen – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Minocqua
Kaden Kennedy – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Westboro
Eric Kleinhans – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Eau Claire
James Knutson – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Rosholt
Jace Kohel – Steamfitter – Edgar
Tucker Kraemer – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Medford
Garrett Kujawa – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Stevens Point
Kelvin Lassa – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Schofield
Seth Leszczynski – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Kronenwetter
Brett Lew – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Eau Claire
Brandon Loomis – Carpenter – Juneau
Matthew Lucht – Maintenance Technician – Spencer
Dryden Luther – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Pittsville
Clayton Mancl – Machinist – Rudolph
Shannon Martling – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Merrill
Tyler Mau – Electrical & Instrumentation Technician – Nekoosa
Connor McCannon – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Stevens Point
Gage Meddaugh – Maintenance Technician – Bancroft
Brady Miller – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Durand
John Miller – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Park Falls
Toby Mirr – Maintenance Technician – Wisconsin Rapids
Connor Mrozek – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Stevens Point
Braeden Nord – Machinist – Amherst Junction
Cameron Nyseth – Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic – Marshfield
Brett Obremski – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Mosinee
Nicholas Palecek – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Merrill
Kadyn Peterson – Carpentry – Stevens Point
Ethan Raatz –Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic – Wisconsin Rapids
Mason Rachu – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Auburndale
Elliott Rehm – Machinist – Westfield
Kyle Reynolds – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Wisconsin Rapids
Gerald Rickaby – Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic – Wisconsin Rapids
Ryan Rucinski – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Arbor Vitae
Joseph Ruzek – Carpenter – Manitowac
Timothy Saavedra – Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic – Arpin
Mason Sauter – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Phillips
Dominik Sawyer – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Nekoosa
Nicholas Schaars – Machinist – Stevens Point
Peyton Scheuer – Plumber – Marshfield
Joseph Schmidt – Plumber – Scandinavia
Simon Schumacher – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Wausau
Andrew Schutz – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Wisconsin Rapids
Nathan Simmons – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Stevens Point
Benjamin Sinclair – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Gleason
Holden Smith – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Merrill
Sawyer Strebe – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Marion
Brock Sullivan – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Stevens Point
Mitchell Swedowski – Steamfitter – Mosinee
Cheng Thao – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Wausau
Jacob Timmerman Jr. – Steamfitter Service – Wisconsin Rapids
Jackson Trybull – Carpenter – Plover
John Uphoff – Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic – Port Edwards
Andrew Venzke – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Abbotsford
Dylan Walkush – Machinist – Wisconsin Rapids
Ayden Weisenberger – Steamfitter – Edgar
Dustin Welch – Plumber – Merrill
Logan Wilhelm – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Bryant
Matthew Wilhelm – Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic – Vesper
Isabella Wilke – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Wausau
Isaac Wogerman – Electrical & Instrumentation Technician – Wisconsin Rapids
Brian Young – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Rudolph
Jacob Zernicke – Construction Electrician (IBEW-NECA) – Mosinee
Austin Zywicki – Construction Electrician (ABC) – Custer
For questions or to request additional information about apprenticeships offered at Mid-State Technical College, visit mstc.edu/apprenticeship or contact Cole Schmidt at 715-997-6731 or cole.schmidt@mstc.edu. For more information on Ascendium, visit ascendiumeducation.org.
