Great Lakes Awards $1,000 Scholarships to 200 Ohio Apprentices with Financial Need

Addressing Financial Obstacles to Completion Helps More Apprentices Build Rewarding Careers

Madison, Wis., June 29, 2017—A combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction for up to five years prepares apprentices for highly skilled, in-demand occupations. In fact, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) projects overall job growth in construction and manufacturing at 6% or more through 2024.

But many apprentices earn modest wages, and expenses for their tools, work clothes and equipment can add up fast. The unfortunate result: the cost of something as basic as steel-toe boots can stand in the way of program completion.

Ohio’s apprentices had the opportunity to apply for Tools of the Trade $1,000 Apprentice Scholarships from Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates this spring. In partnership with ODJFS, Great Lakes recently awarded $1,000 scholarships to 200 construction and manufacturing apprentices attending seven Ohio community colleges.

Great Lakes created this scholarship program in 2013 to support apprentices attending Wisconsin’s technical colleges. Since then, 94% of scholarship recipients either completed their apprenticeship or continued their training the following semester.

“We’re pleased to expand this program to help even more apprentices build rewarding careers,” said Richard D. George, President and Chief Executive Officer of Great Lakes. “Based on the promising results we’ve seen in Wisconsin, we are optimistic that Ohio’s hardworking apprentices will be more likely to continue or complete their programs.”

With the scholarships recently awarded in Ohio and Wisconsin, Great Lakes’ support for Midwest apprentices totals nearly $800,000 to date.

2017 Tools of the Trade $1,000 Apprentice Scholarships – Ohio

Columbus State Community College
55 recipients

Cuyahoga Community College
33 recipients

North Central State College
2 recipients

Northwest State Community College
80 recipients

Owens Community College
27 recipients

Rhodes State College
1 recipient

Terra State Community College
2 recipients

To learn more about the Tools of the Trade $1,000 Apprentice Scholarship, visit community.mygreatlakes.org.