2026 Indiana/Kentucky Graduation
Earlier this month, the Central Midwest Carpenters celebrated the annual Indiana & Kentucky apprenticeship graduation ceremony. Friends and family gathered in downtown Indianapolis to proudly watch this year’s graduates cross the stage and officially become journeymen carpenters, millwrights, and floor coverers. The ceremony marked an important milestone, celebrating their hard work and the bright opportunities ahead. From hearing the graduate speaker to their name as they crossed the stage, it was a perfect celebration of these journeymen.
The graduate speaker for the ceremony was Lucas Taylor out of Local 175. He described his journey through the apprenticeship with a single word – momentum. He’s gone through so much in his life to get where he is now. Through the darkest time in his life, brother Taylor had a friend reach out and connect him with a Central Midwest Carpenters representative. When he got in the apprenticeship, he was nervous, older than his classmates, and lacked confidence. His instructor told him “You’re fine. Just learn. Ask questions.”
That’s the spirit of the apprenticeship program. Every single person we celebrated during the ceremony came in at different points in their lives – from highschool graduates, veterans, and people who wanted a career change in their more seasoned years of life. Everyone came to learn and put in the hard work necessary to be a journeyman carpenter, millright, or floor coverer.
The remarks General President McCarron made last year for the graduates still rings true today: “This is a milestone in your career, now YOU are the leaders who will grow this union for the next generation of apprentices.” McCarron spoke to the leadership that comes after graduating to journey-level status. That leadership isn’t just on the job, it’s reflected in meetings, community involvement, and ensuring success for yourself, your local, and your union.
The word Brother Lucas Taylor used to describe his journey… Momentum… he emplored the people in attendance to use the momentum, use the chance we’re all given by this organization, to go into the rest of our careers – and to never forget what it means to be a Central Midwest Carpenters.
Congratulations to the OVER 450 graduates of the Indiana and Kentucky 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.
