Daryl Tresner, a 1970's graduate of SWTC's Auto Mechanics program, knows firsthand how far opportunity can take someone, and he’s determined to make that path easier for others. He has established two endowed scholarships and plans to leave his estate to the college, ensuring his support will continue for generations. Daryl said, “If I didn’t have Southwest Tech, I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I did. My whole goal is to help as many people as I can get through school."

Dave and Lois Fritz have spent their lives investing in Southwest Wisconsin through business, community leadership, and now, through students pursuing careers at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. “We want students to have the opportunity to attend Southwest Tech in a way that minimizes out-of-pocket costs,” Dave said. “In many cases, they can graduate with little or no debt and move directly into meaningful jobs.”

Recent retiree and SWTC Foundation board member, Karen Campbell, who began working at Southwest Tech in 1983, established two endowed scholarships through the Southwest Tech Foundation to help others pursue education, a cause she says has been central to her career. “I feel that everybody should give back,” Campbell said. “We do amazing work preparing our students for their professional careers, and I want every student here to succeed.”

The Southwest Wisconsin Alliance for Growth in Manufacturing (SWAG) is a nonprofit organization formed in 2024 to support the growth of a sustainable manufacturing workforce throughout southwest Wisconsin. One of SWAG’s newest initiatives is the creation of a scholarship endowment that will support students pursuing manufacturing-related careers. Jason Knapp, plant engineering manager at 3M in Prairie du Chien, serves as a board member for SWAG as well as the SWTC Foundation. Regarding SWAG's partnership with Southwest Tech, Jason said, “It’s a great relationship. Southwest Tech helps us develop talent, and together we’re finding ways to create opportunities for future employees.”