Maren Almstedt has found a niche in a realm—welding—that has long been considered a nontraditional career field for women. But the 2005 graduate of WITC Superior’s Welding Program isn’t bothered by labels. In fact, she’s quite happy.

Brian Schmidt had always been interested in a medical career. When he was laid off from the job he’d held for 15 years, Schmidt decided to pursue his medical dream. He enrolled in the year-long Medical Assistant program. Schmidt now says he wouldn’t trade his new career for anything.