mikeroweWORKS Foundation

SWIPE to see our list of approved programs for the work ethic scholarship program‼️ Apply until October 31st. Learn more #linkinbio

Ayden is in his second year of flight training at @wsutech , and he recently finished his commercial certification. This phase has pushed him deeper into the technical side of aviation, from aerodynamics and weather to decision-making and aircraft control. In the air, that translates to mastering advanced maneuvers that test precision and awareness, including steep turns, stalls, lazy eights, and eights on pylons. His interest in aviation was inspired by his grandfather, who worked as a flight engineer and grew after volunteering at a WWII B-29 Superfortress where he was invited to fly. As the semester ends, Ayden is preparing for his next chapter, earning his Certified Flight Instructor certification and multi-engine rating. Be like Ayden and apply today for a work ethic scholarship #linkinbio . . . #workethic #aviation #scholarship

Aleks, 2x scholarship recipient, sent us a great update! Check it out‼️ . . . #carving #wood #trades

Aleks is set to graduate this month from North Bennet Street School. He started in modern carpentry before earning his way into the restoration and historic carpentry program, where he found himself pulled toward architectural carving—the more detailed side of the trade. These days, he splits his time between high-end finish work, building custom pieces like doors, and driving over an hour to study carving under a European master who’s been at it for decades. Getting there hasn’t been simple. At 10, Aleks lost his left leg to osteosarcoma and has worked on a prosthetic ever since. Years later, he was training to qualify for short distance sprints for the Paralympics, but sustained an injury that disqualified him. That didn’t stop Aleks when it came to his craft—timber framing, handling heavy material, long days. He’s taken on all of it, including the most physically demanding parts of the job. Over time, he’s enjoyed moving towards the precision side of the craft, where the work slows down and the margin for error gets smaller. Be like Aleks and apply for a work ethic scholarship today #linkinbio . . . #workethic #craft #wood

The math isn’t mathing. Let’s fix that‼️ We have millions of dollars to help train the next generation of skilled workers. Apply now #linkinbio . . . #scholarship #work #america

Meet Dawson Staley and Ayden Hunsinger, two recipients of the @mikeroweworks Foundation scholarship for Class 79. Mike Rowe has been a strong advocate for the skilled trades and the opportunities they create for the next generation of workers. Interested in applying for the mikeroweWORKS Work Ethic Scholarship or learning more about the program? Click the link below and take the next step toward your future. /scholarship/

In 9th grade, Matt’s mom signed him up for a basic plumbing and electrical class—he wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. She told him in a worst-case scenario, he’d learn how to fix things in his own house someday. Turns out, she was right. Somewhere between his first wiring project and realizing he actually liked the work, something clicked—this wasn’t just a class, it was a direction. So he followed it. After high school, Matt enrolled in an electrical tech program at Triangle Technical Institute in Pennsylvania. He went on to spend seven years with a small residential contractor, getting real-world experience and sharpening his skills. But eventually, he hit a ceiling and wanted to explore a new path. Today, he’s one of nine in-house electricians at Fortune 500 company, Erie Insurance, helping keep an entire data center running. On any given day, he’s maintaining massive backup power systems, lighting buildings, or leading renovation projects. Not bad for a kid who almost didn’t take the class. Ask him about job security and he doesn’t hesitate. “There’s no shortage of work.” And he believes it—because he’s lived it. These days, when Matt’s not working, he’s with his wife, out fly-fishing, or driving past something he helped build and thinking, “I wired that”. It’s a quiet kind of satisfaction. The kind you don’t get from guessing. The kind you get from doing. The moral of the story is, listen to your mom! . . . #workethic #electrician #work

Maryssa just filled us in on some BIG news! 👏 Swipe to see her update • . • #workethic #work #trades

We award scholarships four times a year—and the first deadline is coming up‼️ Make sure to get your application submitted by April 30th. Learn more with the #linkinbio . . . #scholarship #america #work

Daisy bought her first car at 17, thinking it just needed a little work. It turned out it needed a lot more love than a little work. Lucky for her, the mechanic she went to stepped in, showed her the ropes, and turned a bad purchase into something far more useful—a skill set. This sparked Daisy’s interest in being able to know how to fix things for herself. Growing up with a single mom, Daisy learned early how to pull her weight. She worked her way through San Bernardino Valley College, spending a couple years learning both diesel and automotive technology while holding jobs at an auto parts store and a fire truck dealer. Somewhere along the way, a mentor gave her a simple tip: “If you want to go where the money is, learn diesel.” Daisy didn’t argue. She got to work. Today, she’s a mechanic for the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, keeping emergency vehicles ready for when they’re needed most. She says there is no shortage of work and that job security has never been a concern. When she’s off the clock, she’s either on the soccer field or remodeling her first home. It seems the “I can fix this” spirit has served her well! . . . #workethic #diesel #tech

This is not a political ad, even though I congratulate the Governor of Montana for doing something good. Nor is it a commercial for a big national bank, even though I congratulate Wells Fargo for doing something good. This is actually an ad for mikeroweWORKS, even though I don’t mention my foundation by name until the last few seconds, or congratulate myself for doing anything at all. And yet, every time this ad airs, hundreds of people run to mikeroweWORKS.org to apply for a work ethic scholarship or donate to the cause. For that reason, I’d be grateful if you shared this. As you may have heard, we’ve got $10 million set aside for this next round of scholarships, and I’m doing what I can to make this our biggest year so far. I’m also curious about any theories you might have, as to why an ad that was filmed on my iPhone and cost exactly zero dollars to produce is outperforming all the others. Apply now #linkinbio

Just six months ago, Ryan packed up his life in Pennsylvania and moved to Arizona to be closer to his long-distance girlfriend. But the groundwork for that move started years earlier in a high school auto shop and at a John Deere construction dealership, where he learned early that opportunity usually shows up wearing steel-toed boots. He went on to Pennsylvania College of Technology, where he didn’t just go to school—he got after it. In three years, he completed a dual degree that covered both the operational and technical aspects of heavy equipment. By the time he graduated in 2022, he had minimal debt and three job offers waiting for him. Today, Ryan works for Ames Construction as a heavy equipment technician. Each union job he’s taken has added new skills, more responsibility, and better pay. Off the clock, he’s restoring an old station wagon or heading out to camp. Some people wait for the right opportunity. Ryan just keeps moving, and at 25, he’s already built a career that works. Applications for our work ethic scholarship are open! Go get some 💰#linkinbio • • • #hardwork #heavyequipment