2026 Ohio Graduation

Last month, the Central Midwest Carpenters held our annual Ohio apprenticeship graduation ceremony to celebrate the accomplishment of 377 graduates. Friends and family of those in attendance gathered in downtown Columbus to watch their loved ones walk across the stage and become journeymen carpenters, millwrights, and floor coverers.

 This event is always so special for everyone in attendance, and this year was no different – with graduate speaker James Sprecht from Local 351 sharing his “Journey to Journeyman” story. He shared how before he entered the apprenticeship, he knew he needed a career that could support his family. He turned to the Central Midwest Carpenters to start his CAREER as a UNION Carpenter. There are countless success stories just like this in our council, which is just part of what makes our membership so amazing.

“I never knew what I was eating the next day, I didn’t know what my family was going to be able to do. The apprenticeship gave me a purpose. It gave me a career and a future” brother Sprecht said about his decision to join.

In attendance this year, we had several guest speakers come address the graduates of the evening. Senator Sherrod Brown shared how important this milestone is, not only for everyone walking across the stage, but everyone in the state of Ohio and beyond – as more union journeymen means more skilled labor, and better represented workers in the workforce. Second General Vice President Pete Rodriguez was also in attendance, and shared his experience with completing the aprenticeship, and how much this accomplishment should mean to every journeyman in the room that evening. He also shared that the hard work wasn’t over when you crossed that stage – it continues throughout your career and leads you to become the best carpenter, millwright, or floorlayer you can be.

Congratulations to the recent graduates of the Ohio apprenticeship program. Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and you are ALL worthy of this accomplishment. Good luck as you journey into this next chapter of your careers as UNION carpenters.

 

Click here to view the full gallery from our 2026 Ohio graduation ceremony!