What is the Tools of the Trade Scholarship Program?
Ascendium knows apprenticeships in high-growth industries offer a great path to jobs that pay family-sustaining wages and offer strong lifetime career growth. We also know apprenticeships can be expensive, especially as the price of goods continues to rise.
We don’t want the cost of tools, clothing, equipment, and other expenses required for an apprenticeship to keep learners from reaching their goals. It’s why, for the past 12 years, we’ve offered scholarships to eligible construction and industrial trade apprentices through our Tools of the Trade Scholarship Program.
Am I eligible to apply for a Tools of the Trade scholarship?
You are eligible to apply if:
- You are enrolled in and receiving credit from one of the 16 Wisconsin Technical College System colleges for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters. Apprentices who graduate or complete their program in the Fall 2024 semester are not eligible.
- Your combined household income is less than or equal to three times the federal poverty level (please see the table within the application information sheet for more information).
- You complete an application online by Nov. 22, 2024
- You are enrolled in one of the eligible construction or industrial trades included in the following list.
- Bricklaying/Mason
- Carpentry
- Concrete Finishing
- Drywall Finisher
- Electrical & Instrumentation
- Electrician
- Environmental Service Technician
- Facilities Maintenance Technician
- Glazier
- HVAC
- Industrial Electrician
- Industrial Manufacturing Technician
- Industrial Metrology Technician
- Industrial Shipbuilder Welder
- Injection Mold Set-Up (Plastic)
- Instrumentation
- Ironworking
- Lubrication Technician
- Machine Repair
- Machinist/Tool & Die/Moldmaker/Toolmaker
- Maintenance Mechanic/Millwright
- Maintenance Technician
- Mechatronics Technician
- Metal Fabricator/Welder
- Millwright-Pipefitter
- Operating Engineer/Heavy Equipment Operator
- Painting & Decorating
- Patternmaker
- Pipe Fabricator
- Pipefitter
- Plumbing
- Press Set-Up Operator
- Residential Wirer
- Resilient Floor
- Roadway Maintenance Technician
- Roofer
- Sheetmetal – Industrial or Construction
- Sprinkler Fitting
- Steamfitting – Construction or Service
- Telecommunications VDV Installer Technician
2024-2025 Tools of the Trade Phases
Sept. 23, 2024
APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS
Nov. 22, 2024
APPLICATION PERIOD CLOSES
Dec. 2024 - Feb. 2025
REVIEW AND SELECTION
March 2025 - April 2025
SCHOLARHIP PAYMENT PERIOD
We’ll send all communications regarding your application to the college-issued email address you provide in your application. We will communicate with your college to confirm your Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 enrollment, which is required to be eligible for this scholarship.
If the number of eligible applicants is greater than the number of available scholarships, we will use a random drawing as a fair mechanism to determine who receives an award among eligible applicants. We will notify apprentices of award status in February 2025 and will mail checks to scholarship recipients at the address you provide in the application.
Spread the word about this opportunity.
Email TOTT@ascendiumeducation.org
or call us at 1-866-327-2140
