First-year student Harry Martin poses with his wife, Dawn, in front of a flat bottom skiff completed during the 2010 school year. Mr. Martin gave a speech at the ceremony and intends to enroll for a second year. He would like to own a small boat-building business in the future. The sound emanating from the Great Lakes Boat Building School in Cedarville Friday, June 4, was not the usual din of wood striking wood, but rather of hand striking hand. With the tangible results of their nine-month schooling serving as a backdrop for their graduation ceremony, all 16 members of the 2010 class accepted their diplomas to the echoes of applause.

This was the largest class in the school's three-year history, according to president Dave Lesh, who said this group stood apart for more reasons than just its size.

“This class in particular, I called them into the library and told them they're really special,” he said. “Every class has been great. We've been so fortunate to have first-class students from day one, but there was something special about this class. It's not just the numbers, it's the personalities and the way they came together.”

2010 graduates of the Great Lakes Boat Building School in Cedarville include (from left) Josh Walker, instructor Adam Burks, Grant Oliver, Jordan Luth, Alex McMaken, Mike Iseringhausen, Brian Boehlke, Nathan Garvey, Duane Mongene, instructor Pat Mahon, David Williams, Harry Martin, Brock Tyner and Chris Eastman. Not pictured are Ed Forbes, KJ Sparpace, Owen Gibby, and Will Hobson. Speeches were delivered by both a first-year and second-year student. Chris Eastman, the second-year speaker, who said he found his calling the moment he walked through the doors, had nothing but praise for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity the school provided.

Great Lakes Boat Building School graduate Brian Boehlke is congratulated by former board of directors member Bob Smith (left). “You've given us the opportunity to take our talents and our natural gifts and hone our skills so that we can take what most people take for granted in trees, and turn them into unique works of art,” he said.

First-year student Harry Martin reflected on his journey.

“When I first started to come up here, I was little bit worried about being the oldest guy in the class,” he said. “My wife teased me about the possibility that I might fall asleep in class.”

Once he got to the school, all of those worries disappeared, Mr. Martin said, and he was pleased to find everyone at the school was there to learn and work together.

Mr. Lesh also had praise for the students' attitude toward learning.

“It goes way beyond going from a step stool to the sailboat up there,” he said. “Learning the skills that these guys use all the time is a gift. It still amazes me that someone who didn't know the right end of a chisel in September can turn out work like this. It goes to the instructors, but it also goes to the students who are here because they want to be here. They want to take these skills into the workplace and do something with them.”

Chris Eastman and Rachel Smyth are all smiles after the completed Atkins boat proves seaworthy. Students come in with varying skill levels and experiences, said instructor Adam Burks.

Encouraging those who've worked on boats before, owned their own businesses, or been working with wood all their lives to work together with those who've never held a saw is part of the challenge and part of the reward, Mr. Burks said.

As part of the ceremony, the school launched an Atkins-designed boat they had completed, which will be for sale. The school also provided Challenge Mountain with a boat, which can be adapted for disabled boaters.

Graduate Grant Oliver (from left) with instructors Pat Mahon and Adam Burks. “Besides the students that attend here, there are a lot of people working behind the scenes, and this really is a team effort,” Mr. Lesh said, acknowledging staff, donors, and the school's board of directors. “Everything has to work together. Sometimes it works better than others, but after three years we're starting to feel our way through it and get it right. We hope to make it better and better in years to come.”

From this point, students may continue a career in boat-building or take their skills into similar industries, such as furniture design. Previous graduates have gone on to work in restoration shops or for companies producing high-end yacht exteriors.

“It's actually a good market for a job-seeker trained the way these students have been trained,” said instructor Pat Mahon. “Employers in the boat-building trade will understand the commitment these students have put it. But they have to be willing to go where the jobs are.”

Jobs have ranged from Minnesota to New York to Boyne City.

Graduates are Josh Walker, Grant Oliver, Jordan Luth, Alex McMaken, Mike Iseringhausen, Brian Boehlke, Nathan Garvey, Duane Mongene, David Williams, Harry Martin, Brock Tyner, Chris Eastman, Ed Forbes, K.J. Scarpace, Owen Gibby, and Will Hobson.

Two first-year students have signed up for a second year of instruction.