Hey Mike,
My name is Karcsi. In October 2023, you helped pay my tuition at the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in Troy, Ohio. Somewhere along the way, I realized I had never properly thanked you for your generosity and support.
When I first considered the trades, I was nervous. I had no welding experience, the school was a day’s drive from home, and I wasn’t convinced I could do it. I just knew four more years of college wasn’t the right path for me. One of my teachers, Mr. Tom Stroot, encouraged me to apply for your scholarship. I did, and I was overjoyed to receive $5,000 toward my training. Once I arrived at Hobart, everything clicked. I passed every class with flying colors and absorbed knowledge in a way I never had in high school. I fell in love with welding.
Near the end of the program, Blue Origin held a special job fair and invited students to test on an exotic metal none of us had used before. About 150 students took the test.
Only my friend Nate and I were offered welding positions. The catch was that the job was in Florida, far from the Maryland home I wanted to return to. Still, passing up an open door into aerospace welding seemed foolish, so I signed a one year contract and helped build feedlines for the New Glenn rocket.
In January 2026, I returned home to Maryland, where I now work as an aerospace welder and fitter for Eaton Corporation. I love where I am, and I love what I do.
Your influence and generosity helped make this career and life possible. I hope this message makes its way to you.
-Karcsi
Hi Karcsi
You’re very welcome. Letters like this mean a lot. Not just to me and my team, but to the many individuals and companies who support mikeroweWORKS. Without their help, we couldn’t have assisted you, and I know the people who support my program appreciate hearing from people who have benefited from it. So thanks for writing.
I admire the fact that you changed direction when you realized college was not for you. Too many who come to that realization “stay the course,” and while that always sounds like good advice, it often is not. Staying the course only makes sense if you’re headed in the right direction. I’m glad you course corrected before you wound up in debt for a credential you don’t need.
I admire the fact that you went to Florida for a year, when you didn’t really want to. Success in life is not rooted in doing what you want to do – at least, not right away. I’m glad you had the good sense to follow the opportunity where it took you, and I’m glad it paid off. I’m not a betting man, (at least, not in the traditional fashion,) but I’d wager you’re going to do great things with your skill, your work ethic, your understanding of delayed gratification, and your manners.
Most of all, I love that you credited one of your teachers, Tom Stroot, and I love that Mr. Stroot had the good sense to direct you to mikeroweWORKS https://bit.ly/ApplyForAWorkEthicScholarship.
This year, we’ll award another $10 million in scholarships to students like you, and teachers like Mr. Stroot are a big part of why we continue to grow. Please give him my regards, and my thanks. We need more teachers like him.
Finally, I’m privileged to receive many letters like this, but until now, none has ever inspired me to write a specific commercial for our scholarship program. But your letter, along with the photo of you welding, has. I’m not a welder myself, but I know good work when I see it, and you clearly know what you’re doing. The ad is called The Man Behind the Mask. It’s currently running online in several states, in conjunction with our partnership with https://bit.ly/TWIHIxBuildFreedom, where you can find thousands of opportunities, just like the one you chased down.
I hope it inspires others to follow your example.
Good luck, Karcsi, and thanks for checking in. Keep me posted.
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