05/01/2026
For National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2026, we took a trip to the Kansas State Capitol and the Robert Docking Building in Topeka.
On one of the walls is the phrase “Per aspera ad astra” — “through hardships to the stars.” As the state motto of Kansas, it’s a reminder that anything worth building takes time, effort, and persistence.
That idea is at the core of our apprenticeship program.
We’re not just training individuals—we’re building a long-term pipeline of skilled professionals, raising the standard of the trade, and creating real career paths that didn’t always exist before.
This is bigger than one job or one year. It’s about investing in people, strengthening the industry, and doing the work the right way for the long haul.
Learn more:
Learn about National Apprenticeship Week and its role in shaping skilled professionals for various industries. For us, it's fireplace and chimneys.