Konrad Ryk will complete the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) apprenticeship program and earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree from Elgin Community College (ECC) in May 2023. He worked at Herrmann Ultrasonics in Bartlett, where he was excited to have tuition paid while working in an environment that enabled him to apply course concepts. As Konrad balanced commitments to work and studies, encouragement and coaching from ECC’s apprenticeship coordinator helped him improve his time management and organization skills. He also notes that “making new friends” among apprenticeship program peers made a difference in his life.