Tools of the Trade Scholarships Awarded to 41 Lakeshore College Students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/24/2025
CLEVELAND, WI —
Forty-one Lakeshore College apprenticeship students have been awarded $2,000 scholarships from Ascendium Education Group.
Apprenticeships combine structured, on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Students learn the theory and practice of highly skilled occupations in two to five years. Wages can be modest as expertise and knowledge are developed. Upon completion, industrial sector apprentices earn a median annual salary of $84,240 according to the most recent Wisconsin Technical College System Apprenticeship Completion Report.
Ascendium, a Madison-based nonprofit organization committed to making education and training beyond high school a reality for more people, has been awarding Tools of the Trade scholarships to students throughout the Wisconsin Technical College System for 12 years.
Information about apprenticeships offered through Lakeshore can be found at lakeshore.edu/apprenticeship.
Students receiving scholarships are listed by their hometown:
Cedar Grove
John Wright II, Maintenance Mechanic/Millwright
Elkhart Lake
Cole Fritsch, Machinist/Tool & Die/Moldmaker/Toolmaker
Fond du Lac
Todd Bastian, Industrial Electrician
Glenbeulah
Lucas Hellmer, Millwright/Pipefitter
Howard’s Grove
Andrew Hanke, Maintenance Mechanic/Millwright
Manitowoc
Eric Holdorf, Electrician
Rafael Ortega Jr., Industrial Electrician
Bailey Keil, Maintenance Mechanic/Millwright
Seth Ciha, Maintenance Mechanic/Millwright
Ronald Grawien, Electrician
Luke Yanda, Industrial Electrician
Christien Loiselle, Machinist/Tool & Die/Moldmaker/Toolmaker
Nicholas Proehl, Machinist/Tool & Die/Moldmaker/Toolmaker
Benjamin Corson, Machinist/Tool & Die/Moldmaker/Toolmaker
Joseph Moore, Industrial Electrician
Yayoashi Her, Machinist/Tool & Die/Moldmaker/Toolmaker
Matthew Biely, Machinist/Tool & Die/Moldmaker/Toolmaker
Mishicot
Caleb Zinn, Maintenance Mechanic/Millwright
Plymouth
Mason Arndt, Electrician
Timothy Gamerdinger, Industrial Electrician
Joshua Braddy, Industrial Electrician
Johnny Hang, Machinist/Tool & Die/Moldmaker/Toolmaker
Reedsville
Gerald Scharenbroch, Machinist/Tool & Die/Moldmaker/Toolmaker
Sheboygan
Jonathan Schanno, Industrial Electrician
Sean Nack, Industrial Electrician
Timothy Wolff, Maintenance Mechanic/Millwright
Jacob Vue. Industrial Electrician
Jesus Mendez, Machinist/Tool & Die/Moldmaker/Toolmaker
Brandon Kartes, Maintenance Mechanic/Millwright
Tyson King, Machinist/Tool & Die/Moldmaker/Toolmaker
Michael Thao, Electrician
Samuel Willems, Maintenance Technician
Luise Godinez, Millwright - Pipefitter
Kenneth Hirsch, Maintenance Mechanic/Millwright
Phia Xiong, Machinist/Tool & Die/Moldmaker/Toolmaker
Christopher Barber, Industrial Electrician
Sheboygan Falls
Mason Schmahl, Industrial Electrician
Sean Mckinster, Maintenance Mechanic/Millwright
Two Rivers
Salvador Galaviz, Maintenance Technician
Mitchell Witucki, Maintenance Mechanic/Millwright
Kaci Safer, Maintenance Technician
ABOUT LAKESHORE COLLEGE
Lakeshore College, formerly known as Lakeshore Technical College, is a comprehensive community and technical college educating more than 9,000 students annually. Students enroll at Lakeshore to master real-world, employable career skills and start their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Lakeshore faculty and staff are focused on providing each student an individualized learning experience.
Lakeshore College is a nationally recognized two-year college. The college was ranked #2 in the nation by Washington Monthly, #17 in the nation by Forbes, #20 in the nation by WalletHub.com, a top-150 two-year college by the Aspen Institute, a 2024 Bellwether Award winner, and named the 2021 Large Business/Industry of the Year by the Chamber of Manitowoc County.
Approximately 800 students graduate from Lakeshore each year, and associate degree graduates report earning a median salary of $55,698 within six months of graduating. In addition to the Cleveland campus, Lakeshore educates students at learning campuses in downtown Manitowoc and downtown Sheboygan. Classes are also offered at additional sites throughout the district. Visit Lakeshore at lakeshore.edu.
