Inspired by Mike Rowe’s message on the value of skilled work
In a world where a four-year degree is often seen as the only ticket to success, voices like Mike Rowe’s remind us that there’s another path — one built on skill, dedication, and opportunity.
In his video, “You Can Make $150,000 Per Year Welding With an $8,000 Certificate,” Rowe shares a message that challenges long-held assumptions about education and work. He highlights how many well-paying trade careers are available right now — and how too few young people are being encouraged to pursue them.
Rowe points out that while the nation faces a shortage of welders, electricians, mechanics, and other skilled professionals, millions of people continue to take on significant debt for degrees that don’t always lead to sustainable careers. The trades, he reminds us, aren’t a “fallback.” They’re foundational — essential, respected, and deeply rewarding.
At the New Berlin High Schools Alumni Foundation (NBHSAF), we see that message come to life every year. Many of our scholarship applicants are students who want to work with their hands, build with purpose, and serve their communities through skilled trades and apprenticeships.
These young people aren’t looking for shortcuts — they’re looking for opportunity. They want to learn, earn, and contribute. What they often lack isn’t motivation; it’s access.
That’s where NBHSAF steps in. Our scholarships help graduates pursue two-year vocational programs, technical certificates, and apprenticeship training — the very paths that Mike Rowe champions. By easing financial barriers, we help students gain practical skills that lead to high-demand, high-wage careers — without the crushing debt that too often follows a traditional college education.
Not everyone belongs in a lecture hall. Some belong in workshops, labs, and job sites — places where learning happens through doing.
At NBHSAF, we believe that every path to success deserves respect. The trades don’t just build things — they build families, communities, and futures. When one student gains the skills to start a meaningful career, our entire community becomes stronger.
Rowe often says that “America has confused education with enlightenment.” His point is that college isn’t the only kind of learning that matters. The trades teach problem-solving, patience, and pride — qualities that serve individuals and society alike.
Our mission at NBHSAF is simple: to ensure that students who want to work in the trades have the chance to do so. Through donations, Kwik Trip card sales, and our annual auction, we raise funds to help New Berlin graduates pursue rewarding careers in the skilled trades and apprenticeship programs.
We’re proud to be part of a growing movement that’s reshaping how we define success — one student, one scholarship, and one skill at a time.
If you share our belief in the dignity and value of skilled work, we invite you to join us.
Donate to support scholarships.
Purchase Kwik Trip cards — every sale helps fund another student’s future.
Spread the word by sharing this post or the video above.
Together, we can help the next generation of graduates build careers, communities, and futures — one skill at a time.
#SupportTheTrades #NBHSAF #VocationalScholarships #MikeRowe #SkilledWorkMatters