Built for More: Luke’s Apprenticeship Journey at ICC
If you’re making the decision to go into the electrical field or the trades, ICC is a good start. It gives you the tools and the peace of mind to be able to handle the field.
Luke, ICC apprenticeship student
Luke did not come to ICC for a traditional college experience. He came because he saw an opportunity to grow.
While working in manufacturing, he learned about an apprenticeship through his employer and decided to take a chance. At the time, he was running a CNC machine, but he knew this opportunity could change the direction of his career. He could move into maintenance, troubleshoot problems, and find work that challenged him every day. That decision brought him to ICC.
What stands out most to Luke is the impact of his instructors. He credits Kent Ulm and Jay Buehler for bringing real-world experience into the classroom in a way that makes the work click.
“They bring their experience from the field, which not only tells us what to do but also demonstrates how it is applied in real-world situations,” he said.
Kent’s background in tool and die helped Luke build on knowledge he already had from his work in fabricator setup. Jay stood out for his ability to break things down.
“Jay is able to simplify it and make it easier to fully grasp the concepts.”
At ICC, learning goes beyond the textbook. Students gain a strong foundation, but instructors help bridge the gap between theory and what actually happens on the job.
Luke also points to Sara Williams, Workforce Apprenticeship Coordinator, as a key part of his success. She helped him stay on track and navigate the moving parts of the apprenticeship, making sure he could continue progressing through his classes.
Looking ahead, Luke sees the apprenticeship as the step that solidified his future in industrial maintenance and electrical work. He is focused on becoming a highly skilled maintenance professional, with the potential to move further into tech and automation.
For Luke, ICC has been more than a classroom. It has been a starting point for building a career that keeps him learning, growing, and solving problems every day.