A strong start can change everything and FVTC graduates show us exactly how far technical education can take you.
Abby and Carlos are two examples of how a strong start can lead to a bright future. Both of these graduates took the hands-on skills they learned at FVTC and went on to pursue four-year degrees in highly technical fields.
From welding and nuclear security to software development and artificial intelligence, they share where they are now and how others’ belief in their potential gave them the strong start they needed.
Abby Frisk ’22, Industrial Welding Technology
What is your current role and what have you been up to since graduation? Since graduating from FVTC in May of 2022 I continued my education at Ferris State University in Michigan earning my bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering Technology in May of 2025. Today I am a Welding Engineer for Consolidated Nuclear Security at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, TN. Additionally, since 2022 I have returned each summer to volunteer for the FVTC Girl Tech Welding workshop. It’s a lot of fun not only returning to FVTC but also introducing young ladies to welding.
What did receiving a scholarship from the FVTC Foundation mean to you? Receiving a FVTC Foundation scholarship meant the absolute world to me. It allowed me to financially get through college and be able to focus on my studies. It meant a lot to me that the FVTC Foundation saw my potential and trusted me to succeed.
Now that you have graduated, what advice do you have for current FVTC students? Network as much as you can with everyone. You never know where you might run into them again or maybe they know someone who works somewhere you would like to work. Connections are very important.
Carlos Guzman Ramirez ’24, Software Developer
What is your current role and what have you been up to since graduation? After graduation, I worked as a Software Engineer for about one year, and I was surprised to find that I applied most of what we learned in our program at FVTC. The technology stack, programming languages and coding skills were a direct transfer from the classroom to the job and I am extremely grateful for that.
In August of 2025, I transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science with an emphasis in Artificial Intelligence. I’m currently in my second semester and expect to graduate in December of 2027.
I’ve been working on campus at the University Ticketing and Information Center (UTIC) since last year and recently began a new role as a data manager and analyst for the Wild Rice Restoration Project at the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity.
Outside of work and classes, I joined the founding team of the Google Developer Group (GDG) on campus at UW-Green Bay last November to help build a stronger tech community in Northeast Wisconsin. Building on everything I’ve learned so far, I am also excited to share that I will be spending this summer as a software developer intern with Green Bay Packaging.
It has been a lot of hard work, but I am genuinely happy with what I am doing and very excited about where I am heading.
What did receiving a scholarship from the FVTC Foundation mean to you? Receiving the Lee & Elaine Martin Scholarship in 2023 was a truly defining moment for my future. From the time I started at Fox Valley Tech, my goal was to eventually pursue a bachelor’s degree. I always worked multiple on-campus jobs to support myself, but saving enough for both living expenses and future tuition was a constant challenge. This scholarship changed that equation. It covered my immediate tuition and allowed me to build a financial safety net for after graduation.
That stability gave me the crucial time I needed to secure a local job and work for a year. Ultimately, those savings allowed me to meet the strict financial requirements for international students to transfer and enroll at UW-Green Bay. The path I am on today simply wouldn’t have been possible without the FVTC Foundation and the generous donors who believe in students like me.
Now that you have graduated, what advice do you have for current FVTC students? Don’t be afraid to ask for help. No one achieves anything worthwhile entirely on their own, and I will always be grateful for the support I found at FVTC. I spent hours visiting professors during office hours, meeting with career advisors, and seeking advice from faculty, staff and other students. It was thanks to their guidance that I found the direction I needed to advance.
Having also been on the other side of that support system, working at the Admissions office and as a tutor on campus, I know firsthand how much the community genuinely wants to see you succeed. If you ever feel lost, defeated, or just need someone to talk to, please let your instructors or advisors know. There are people and resources at FVTC specifically meant to help any student who needs it.
New Scholarship Funds (3/1/2025-2/28/2026)
Beverly Ann Scholarship
Calumet County Youth Safety Association Scholarship
David and Dawn Peterson Scholarship
Tyler Kreiter Legacy Scholarship Endowment
Lapham-Hickey Cares Metal Fabrication Scholarship
LtCol John and Mrs. Debra Pietsch Aerospace Maintenance Scholarship
Neenah Menasha King’s Daughters Scholarship
Nickle A Region Model A Club Scholarship
Ralph D. Searles Industrial Trades Scholarship
Venture Center Endowed Scholarship
Visiting Angels Scholarship
Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association Scholarship
