Once a quiet alternative, apprenticeships today are a fast-growing force in the modern workforce.

Across the United States, more than 415,000 young people ages 16 to 24 are placed in internships, which have grown by 85% to meet rising demand from both students and employers. The outcomes are equally compelling: 94% of apprentices remain employed after completing their programs, and graduates can earn more than $300,000 in additional lifetime income.

Charles “Chaz” Thomas has never been the type to back down from competition.

During this year’s Massachusetts state wrestling championships, the Cape Cod Technical High School junior tore his hamstring in his first match. He didn’t know the severity of the injury at the time. He simply tried to walk it off.

Holmes, founder of Advantage Truck Group (ATG), began his business in 1984 with a service station in Ashland, Massachusetts, a gas pumper and $12,000 in life savings.

More than four decades later, ATG has grown into a three-state operation with eight locations selling and servicing big highway rigs, but Holmes has never lost sight of the people who will carry the industry forward. That’s a big reason why ATG has become such a strong supporter of SkillsUSA Massachusetts - including hosting the state diesel technician state competition for the sixth year this spring.

One of Duda’s most defining moves came early in his administrative career by making Pathfinder Tech a 100% SkillsUSA school when he became vocational director. Today, every Pathfinder Tech student has access to SkillsUSA opportunities, from leadership development to technical competitions at the district, state and national levels.

Leah Schneyer-VanZile walked into commercial baking competitions with confidence—and walked out with a broader vision for leadership. From finishing top five in the state as a freshman to being elected president of SkillsUSA Massachusetts, Schneyer-VanZile’s journey shows how career and technical education can fuel both ambition and impact.

What started as a practical decision to graduate as a “full senior” turned into a lifelong, learning-driven career for Sharon Clohesy. From discovering cosmetology by chance to opening her own salon and launching ROgHA Hair System, Clohesy’s journey shows how continuing to learn – far beyond required certifications – can turn a skill into a career and a career into a platform for impact.

When Brian Anastasio first stepped into the graphic design shop at Blue Hills Regional Technical School, he had no idea he’d one day become the voice telling the SkillsUSA Massachusetts story across its social platforms. Today, as the organization’s digital media specialist, he channels his own student experiences into telling the stories of others.