By Ascendium Education Group
Ascendium Education Group is a nonprofit dedicated to removing barriers and creating opportunities for learners from low-income backgrounds to achieve academic and career success. In particular, the organization invests in efforts to increase effective postsecondary education and workforce training pathways that lead to good, family-sustaining jobs. There is strong evidence that apprenticeships in certain sectors and occupations can lead to upward mobility.
For the past 12 years, Ascendium has supported apprenticeship in Wisconsin through the Tools of the Trade Scholarship Program. The program provides $2,000 scholarships to eligible construction and industrial trade apprentices in the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS). Apprentices can use the scholarship for tools, clothing, equipment, tuition and other needs that help them complete the required education and training for their trade.
This year, 801 apprentices received Tools of the Trade scholarships for a total of $1,602,000. Of those recipients, 109 are enrolled at nearby Madison College, learning trades in areas like construction, electrical, plumbing and telecommunications.
Since its creation in 2013, the program has provided over $6 million in scholarships to more than 4,300 apprentices statewide. Apprentices are eligible to apply for a scholarship if they are enrolled at a WTCS college and receive credit for both fall and spring semesters, are enrolled in an eligible construction or industrial trade, and demonstrate a financial need.
“For many learners from low-income backgrounds, finding a credential or training program that offers a clear return on their time and money is difficult,” said Keith Witham, president and chief executive officer at Ascendium. “Because they offer applied, job-relevant training and allow learners to continue getting paid while completing that training, apprenticeships are a compelling option for those seeking a clear path to a better career.”
A recent WTCS report sheds light on the power of apprenticeships in providing a pathway to a good, family-sustaining job. Based on a 2023 survey, 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% of apprentices reported that they were still working in the state.
Interest in apprenticeship has continued to grow over the past several years. According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards (Wisconsin DWD-BAS), active registered apprenticeship contracts rose to a record-breaking high of 17,542 apprentices in 2024.
Apprenticeships benefit employers as well by offering a solution to skilled labor shortages. According to Wisconsin DWD-BAS, over 3,000 employers are currently involved in apprenticeship, training thousands of registered apprentices annually in around 200 occupations. New occupations are also approved regularly as employment needs shift over time around the state.
“Time and again, apprenticeships have proven to be a reliable pathway to excellent jobs with family-sustaining wages,” said Layla Merrifield, WTCS president. “The Tools of the Trade scholarships offer crucial assistance, helping students successfully complete their education, ensuring skilled talent for employers statewide.”
