Thomas Monaghan is building his way to success.
The Wanganui man has been nominated for the Central North Island Regional Registered Master Builders Third Year Apprentice of the Year.
Mr Monaghan says he left school unsure about what he wanted to do.
"So I spoke to my parents and my father said it would be great if I got a trade.
"I did a tertiary course for building after I left school, in my first year out of school, and then I approached Shane (owner of Shane Stone Builders) and asked if he could take me on."