As graduation season kicks off, Mellott is proud to highlight Maddux Northcraft, our Mellott University Student of the Month for May. A senior at Everett High School, Maddux has stood out for his hands-on work ethic and strong commitment to building a career in a field he’s truly passionate about.
Learning by Doing
Maddux is part of Mellott University, our paid apprenticeship program that allows high school seniors to earn a paycheck while they learn from Mellott’s experienced subject matter experts. Over the past year, Maddux has excelled in hands-on learning—spending time in the shop, developing welding skills, and exploring how rock crushers operate.
One of his favorite moments in the program was visiting the Front Royal Quarry with his fellow Mellott University classmates. The opportunity to see the bigger picture of the industry in action left a lasting impression.
“If you go into a field you like, then you’ll enjoy working—and I’m looking forward to that,” Maddux shared as he looks ahead to full-time work after graduation.
In and Out of School: Always On Target
Maddux is also a member of Everett High School’s Rifle Team, which has impressively gone undefeated for eight straight seasons. When he’s not in the shop or at school, you’ll likely find him outdoors. This year alone, he harvested seven deer, and enjoyed taking his younger cousins, Luke and Bentley, fishing, where they both caught their limit of palominos.
A Growing Interest in Crushing
Throughout his time in Mellott University, Maddux especially enjoyed learning about the Crushing Department. From understanding how rock crushers work to seeing operations firsthand during the visit to Front Royal Quarry, that area of the company stood out as the most exciting and engaging part of his experience so far. His curiosity and eagerness to learn more about crushing operations show just how invested he is in finding a meaningful path in the trades.
A Conversation That Sparked a Future
Maddux credits his introduction to Mellott University to Mellott employee Jeff Rowland, who first told him about the program and encouraged him to apply.
“I want to thank Jeff for talking to me about Mellott University and what a great opportunity it was. That conversation helped me decide to give it a shot.”
Looking Ahead
Regarding Maddux, Mellott Technical Trainer Dave Coleman said, “Maddux has been a great teammate. He has done a great job at multi-tasking his school activities along with his time at Mellott University. He has shown dedication and determination throughout the program. We are excited to have him with us full-time.”
Maddux is a great example of what Mellott University is all about—giving passionate, driven students the tools, knowledge, and experience to launch a rewarding career. We’re proud to recognize him this month!
