2026 Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony & Celebration Dinner
On August 18, the Alliance of Indiana Rural Water celebrated an important milestone with its first Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony & Celebration Dinner at The Sycamore at Mallow Run in Bargersville, Indiana.
Apprentices, families, mentors, employers, utility leaders, and industry partners came together to recognize the newest graduates of AIRW’s Apprenticeship Program and celebrate the hard work, training, and commitment that brought them here.
More than a graduation, the evening celebrated the people and partnerships helping build the future of Indiana’s water and wastewater workforce.
Throughout the evening, graduates heard from industry and workforce leaders about the importance of their work and the opportunities ahead. Indiana Department of Workforce Development Commissioner Kate Shelby delivered a moving keynote on the value of registered apprenticeship and congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments. Guests also heard from AIRW Director of Workforce Development Kelly Strain and program graduates Kalei Klaassen and Chris O’Neal, who shared their own experiences and perspectives on where an apprenticeship can lead.
The evening's highlight was the certificate presentation, as graduates were recognized in front of their families, mentors, employers, and industry peers.
AIRW proudly celebrated 2026 graduates Garrett Borter, Penny Culp, Jantzen Fields, Erika Goble, James Henderson, Timothy Reifel, and Jeffery Smith, along with 2025 graduate Tyler Hill.
Also recognized were graduates who completed the Apprenticeship Program but were unable to attend the celebration: Daniel Blackwell, Kirk Bratton, Cody Conner, Chris Craft, Christopher Craw, Caleb De Jong, Jon Gray, Wesley Hamilton, Brian Hoffman, Anthony Kirschbaum, Dylan Parrish, Luke Postell, Tyler Seats, and Kevin Wright.
The evening provided an opportunity to recognize the network behind each apprentice. Mentors, employers, participating utilities, industry partners, families, AIRW members, and the National Rural Water Association all play an important role in helping apprentices develop the skills and experience needed to succeed.
AIRW is grateful to the sponsors who helped make this inaugural celebration possible: IBN, Presenting Sponsor; Indiana American Water, Graduation Ceremony Sponsor; Ortman Drilling & Water Services, Dinner Sponsor; Covalen and Utility Supply Company, Future Workforce Sponsors; and Commonwealth Engineers, Apprentice Champion Sponsor. AIRW also thanks Peerless Midwest, CHA, and ServLine for joining the celebration as exhibitors.
This year’s graduates may have completed their apprenticeships, but their connection to the program doesn’t end here. AIRW looks forward to making the Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremony & Celebration Dinner an annual tradition and welcoming past graduates back to celebrate and encourage the classes that follow them.