On May 18, students, families, educators and industry leaders gathered at the Blain’s Supply Conference and Training Center to celebrate the graduation of the spring 2026 cohort of the Craftsman With Character program — a moment that represented much more than the completion of a 16-week course.

For these students, the program offered a firsthand look into the opportunities waiting for them right here in the Janesville region. For the businesses and partners involved, it was another reminder of what’s possible when education and industry work together with a shared purpose.

The graduation ceremony brought together students and family members alongside leadership from the School District of Janesville, Forward Janesville, Blackhawk Technical College, and participating employers including JP Cullen, United Alloy, Prent Corporation, Blain Supply, Boucher Auto Group, and Hesser Toyota. Each student received a certificate of completion and a commemorative Craftsman With Character hammer sponsored by Blain Supply — a fitting symbol of the skills, work ethic and character they developed throughout the semester.

At its core, Craftsman With Character is about more than career exploration. The program helps students develop virtuous character traits such as integrity, responsibility, professionalism and accountability while introducing them to the wide variety of career pathways available in manufacturing, construction, skilled trades, automotive and related industries.

Through hands-on experiences at local businesses, students gain exposure to what is “made in their own backyard” and build meaningful connections with employers and mentors across the community. Those experiences can lead to internships, scholarships, employment opportunities, and, perhaps most importantly, confidence about the future.

Forward Janesville is proud to serve as a partner in the program and to help strengthen the bridge between education and workforce development in our community. Workforce attraction and talent development remain among the most important issues facing local employers, and programs like Craftsman With Character are a powerful example of how Janesville continues to invest in its future workforce.

The program was recently highlighted in a Janesville Gazette article that captured the impact Craftsman With Character is having on participating students and businesses alike. The story featured student experiences and employer perspectives that reinforce the value of providing young people with real-world exposure to career opportunities before graduation.

We especially appreciated comments from students who spoke about gaining a deeper understanding of local industries and discovering opportunities they may never have considered otherwise. Those moments of exploration and discovery are exactly what the program was designed to create.

While the article focused primarily on the experiences inside participating businesses, it also underscored the importance of the broader partnership that makes the program possible — including the collaboration between the School District of Janesville, local employers, Blackhawk Technical College, and Forward Janesville.

Programs like Craftsman With Character do not succeed because of any one organization. They succeed because an entire community chooses to invest in students and in the future of our local workforce.

Congratulations again to the spring 2026 cohort. We look forward to seeing where their journeys lead next.

To learn more about Craftsman With Character and Forward Janesville’s involvement in the program, visit our webpage here.