Alaska Works Partnership, Success Stories

Read our inspiring stories about students who have taken advantage of our programs and services at Alaska Works Partnership. Be sure to reach out to us if you have any questions. We're ready to help you start your career in the construction trades today.


Apprenticeship Success - Nome Alaska

Nineteen year old Cameryn Olson is fast pursuing a life of great accomplishments. After a couple of temporary jobs straight out of high school, Cameryn landed at Norton Sound Health Corporation in the Ophthalmology department, earning a decent wage.

More was desired, as she had always had her eyes on heavy equipment operating. She had applied to the Alaska Operating Engineers’ apprenticeship program a year prior, but fell just a month short of obtaining her driver’s license, making her ineligible for the program.

Not stopping at such a silly hurdle, and now with her license in hand, Cameryn successfully completed a 40-hour hands-on equipment operating training with Alaska Works Partnership, becoming familiar with the school and staff, and finishing at the top of her class.

She applied again, interviewed, and was accepted! She says she will miss home but is ready to do what it takes to follow her dreams.

Relocating from Nome to the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Cameryn had a moment of hesitation, as the thought of leaving her hometown and starting over somewhere new was uncovering emotions she hadn’t yet experienced. The hesitation didn’t last long, though, as she quickly began looking forward to the new beginning! With an enthusiastic work ethic and positive attitude, Cameryn is on track for a bright and rewarding career with the Alaska Operating Engineers as a heavy equipment operator!

A quick check-in with Cameryn recently, she revealed that she is absolutely loving the training and is excited to be a part of building Alaska by working on projects all over the state! We look forward to tracking Cameryn’s success and sharing her accomplishments with hope that they will inspire the next Success Story!

Read More Stories
Darren Bunde

Carpentry Apprenticeship Success Darren had been working at a local pizza shop in Anchorage for several years when he realized he wanted a career change. Despite having no previous experience in construction trades, he decided to take a chance and enroll in the Alaska Works Carpentry 1 program. Little did he know, this decision would […]

Kirk McKibben

Operating Engineers Apprenticeship Success We are thrilled to share the news of Kirk McKibben's success in his apprenticeship program! Kirk has spent his entire working career in manual labor jobs, but he wanted to move toward a career that would provide more opportunities for growth and development. After completing a 40-hour training in heavy equipment […]

Trinity Nusbaum Carpentry Apprenticeship Success
Trinity Nusbaum

Apprenticeship Success Meet Trinity Nusbaum, a young woman who has already made great strides in her career as a carpenter. Trinity's journey began after high school, where she worked in coffee shops and gyms, establishing a good work ethic, but craving a new challenge. That challenge came in the form of exploring the construction trades […]

Elijah Watts

Apprenticeship Success - Fairbanks From working as a customer service representative at a local Jiffy Lube in Fairbanks, Alaska, Elija Watts transitioned into exploring career-oriented options that would pique his interest. His journey led him to carpentry, a trade that he found fascinating after watching the construction of a local skate park. After working a […]

 Kaden Blevins

Kaden’s Journey to Becoming a Plumber: How One High School Student Found His Passion Kaden Blevins' story is a great example of how a chance encounter can change the trajectory of one’s life. Growing up in Colorado, Kaden never imagined himself becoming a plumber. However, when his family moved to Eagle River, AK, he found […]

Jaclyn Johnson

Telecom Apprenticeship Success Jaclyn’s journey towards a fulfilling career is a great testament to the impact that Alaska Works Partnership (AWP) can have on individuals. In just a few interactions, AWP staff were able to introduce Jaclyn to the world of construction training and the opportunities available to her. This led her to apply for […]

Cameryn Olson

Apprenticeship Success - Nome Alaska Nineteen year old Cameryn Olson is fast pursuing a life of great accomplishments. After a couple of temporary jobs straight out of high school, Cameryn landed at Norton Sound Health Corporation in the Ophthalmology department, earning a decent wage.More was desired, as she had always had her eyes on heavy […]

Philip Andrew Career success
Philip Andrew

Career Success Meet Philip, a man who is a jack of all trades and a single dad to six wonderful sons. He was born and raised in the village of New Stuyahok, Alaska, where he worked various labor jobs. However, it wasn't until he discovered his love for construction that he decided to pursue a […]

Emily Campbell

Apprenticeship Success Emily Campbell's story is a very inspiring example of resilience, determination, and the power of second chances. Despite facing personal challenges, Emily was able to turn her life around through hard work, support, and training. Emily's journey began when she participated in the Cadet to Work Program (CWP) through AMYA and Alaska Works […]

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