Western Technical College Apprentice students awarded scholarships
La Crosse, WI (04/17/2019) — Nine Western Technical College electrical and plumbing apprentices have received $1,500 scholarships from Ascendium Education Group, a non-profit organization that helps students across the country repay federal student loans.
The recipients include:
Seth Bonner, of Tomah
Austin Boville, of La Crosse
Tyler Bush, of Black River Falls
Myles Connor, of Camp Douglas
Anthony Jensen, of Holmen
Zachary Lechner, of Brownsville, MN
George Mauss, of Eitzen, MN
Jason McClelland, of Viroqua
Guthrie Thurston, of Wilton
The scholarship money comes from the Tools of the Trade Apprentice Scholarship program, which helps apprentices purchase tools, clothing, and equipment vital to their trades.
"This scholarship money is such a great help to our apprentices," said Bob Marconi, apprenticeship coordinator for Western Technical College. "This support will help them afford the education they need to compete for high-paying jobs."
Since the program's inception, 95 percent of recipients across the Wisconsin Technical College System have either completed or continued their apprenticeships the following semester. A total of $295,500 in scholarships were awarded to 15 Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) institutions.
"Our scholarships help learners overcome financial barriers so they can focus on successfully completely their apprenticeship and advancing to an in-demand trade career," said Ascendium Chairman, President and CEO Richard D. George. "We're proud to help Wisconsin's hardworking apprentices build brighter futures."
For more information on Western's apprenticeship programs, please visit www.westerntc.edu/apprenticeship.
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About Ascendium: Elevating opportunity through the power of higher education since 1967
Ascendium Education Group (formerly Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates) is the nation's largest student loan guarantor, a leading postsecondary education and workforce training philanthropy, and a provider of student success services for colleges and universities. Founded in 1967, Ascendium provides information, tools and counseling to millions of borrowers nationwide, helping them avoid default and keep the door to re-enrollment open. Ascendium's philanthropy provides grant funding to educational institutions and researchers aimed at eliminating systemic obstacles to postsecondary success. Our grant making focuses on students from low-income families, a disproportionate number of whom are students of color and first generation students. To learn more, visit www.ascendiumeducation.org and www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org