Tri-Rivers Construction Trades Academy

Tri-Rivers Construction Trades Academy Our CTA students learn skills in heavy equipment, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and many more!

Over the last two weeks, we have had the privilege of celebrating our Construction Trades seniors, and we could not be m...
05/15/2026

Over the last two weeks, we have had the privilege of celebrating our Construction Trades seniors, and we could not be more proud of all they have accomplished.

This year also marks the largest graduating class in Construction Trades program history.

We had 90% of our students placed directly into the industry, and we are incredibly proud of each and every one of them. We look forward to watching their continued success as they begin their careers and future endeavors.

Last Monday, we kicked off our celebrations with Signing Day. The event was very well attended by parents, grandparents, family members, friends, contractors, students, and administrators. It was a special opportunity to recognize our students and celebrate their future goals working in the construction industry.

Then last night, we celebrated our Senior Recognition Night and graduation. It was another meaningful evening honoring our seniors and reflecting on all the hard work they have put in over the years.

The projects this group has completed throughout our community will leave a lasting impact for years to come. These students worked on the Knights of Columbus project and the Park Boulevard housing initiative here in Marion buildings and projects that will stand the test of time and hopefully one day be appreciated by their future families as well. Marion is brighter because of these young stars.

Last night, we also had the opportunity to recognize several students individually:

🏆 Principal’s Award – Kylee Crager
🏆 Top Tradesman Awards – John Conklin and Hunter Spears

These students truly stood out through their hard work, leadership, and dedication in the Construction Trades program.

We would also like to recognize Niles Bush and Caden Cuzmano, who received one of the highest honors by earning the rank of Eagle Scout an achievement earned by only the top 6% nationwide. In addition, Niles completed his Associate Degree through The University of Akron while still in high school, which is an incredible accomplishment.

Jaxon Canter and Cohan Cellar had perfect attendance over two years!

To all of the families, parents, supporters, and especially our students thank you for trusting us and allowing us to be part of your journey. We are truly grateful and excited to see what the future holds for this outstanding group of young men and women.

Last Friday, Construction Trades had an incredible experience partnering with the North Union ROX program! Our Built Gir...
05/05/2026

Last Friday, Construction Trades had an incredible experience partnering with the North Union ROX program! Our Built Girl Tough members proudly hosted 21 fifth-grade young ladies for a hands-on Career Day.

The CTA Built Girl Tough members planned engaging, project-based learning activities to make the day both meaningful and memorable. Students explored the world of construction, learned about skilled trades, and experienced what it’s like to build, create, and lead.

We also had the pleasure of welcoming back one of our CTA legends, Kaydence Benson, as a guest speaker and role model for our young ladies. She is a heavy equipment operator with Local 18 and led a great question and answer session about women in the trades, sharing her experiences and advice.

Throughout the day, students learned that women in the trades are growing in number and making a strong impact. They discovered that success in construction comes down to skill, determination, and teamwork and that there are real opportunities for them in these careers.

We’re proud to support and inspire the next generation of strong, confident women in the trades!

We had the pleasure of hosting students from Morrow County for a 4-H Career Exploration Day focused on the many opportun...
04/29/2026

We had the pleasure of hosting students from Morrow County for a 4-H Career Exploration Day focused on the many opportunities within the construction industry at Tri-Rivers. Students engaged in hands-on projects, interacted with our students and staff, observed heavy equipment operations, and explored a variety of carpentry techniques.

It was an outstanding day of learning, teamwork, and discovery. Thank you for spending the day with us.We truly enjoyed hosting such an enthusiastic group and sharing the exciting career pathways available in the skilled trades!

They say pictures are worth a thousand words and on a job site, they tell the whole story.In construction, what you crea...
04/22/2026

They say pictures are worth a thousand words and on a job site, they tell the whole story.

In construction, what you create speaks louder than words ever could.

The memories we make today will last a lifetime.As I always say, the greatest project you’ll ever work on is yourself.Pr...
04/21/2026

The memories we make today will last a lifetime.

As I always say, the greatest project you’ll ever work on is yourself.

Proud of our students putting in the time, effort, and craftsmanship on their projects these are the moments that shape not just skills, but they're greatest project!

Special thanks to our incredible instructor family for the extra hours, early mornings, and late nights.

03/11/2026

If your kids are anything like ours, when you ask them how their day was or what did they work on, you get, “Good. We worked on some stuff.”

Parents, here is what some of your kids are actually doing in lab! And they are doing an amazing job at it! (This was CTA10 morning class. We’ll be doing something similar for the afternoon class soon!)

02/19/2026

Trying something different. Here’s a short video showcasing what some of our students are working on. Let us know what you think! More student updates, more videos of students working, more updates on projects? Thank you for your feedback!

Some days remind you exactly why you love what you do.I don’t know how much more we could pack into one day!Our students...
02/19/2026

Some days remind you exactly why you love what you do.

I don’t know how much more we could pack into one day!

Our students started the morning with our morning meeting and huddle session — stretching and flexing, preparing just like our industry prepares for the workday before heading to the job site. From there, they went straight to work… in the rain… getting the site prepared for slab prep and tomorrow morning’s concrete pour. That’s real-world experience. That’s commitment.

In the middle of it all, we held our SkillsUSA meeting in the lab, focusing on developing soft skills that matter in the construction industry. Today’s lesson centered on proper email etiquette and how to professionally send an email — because communication is just as important as craftsmanship. Students actively worked on strengthening their communication skills, building confidence, and preparing for a bright future in the trades.

To close out the day, we had the opportunity to present at the board meeting. Our student CTA showcase, Kylie Crager, did an outstanding job representing the Construction Trades Program. She spoke with professionalism and pride about what our program does and the impact we have on our community and in the industry. We couldn’t be more proud of her.

All of this — while continuing to teach and align with the mandated State of Ohio Construction course standards.

We are blessed with an incredible team of instructors and an outstanding group of students. Today was a great reminder that we are building more than structures — we are building futures.

It’s times like these — the early mornings — that build character and define the future.When students show up early, sta...
02/11/2026

It’s times like these — the early mornings — that build character and define the future.

When students show up early, stay late, and put in the dedication, that’s where the real impact happens. Not just on the projects they’re working on, but on themselves. On their mindset. On the drive it takes to be successful.

That’s what we’re building at the Construction Trades Academy.
We’re building the future — one step at a time.

Every day, these students are shaping who they are becoming. Their dedication. Their hard work. Their commitment. They set themselves apart because they choose to put in the effort when no one is watching.

This is a special group.
And together, we’re creating something that will last far beyond the classroom — something truly everlasting.

Big shout out to Andrew’s Pastries for supplying the fuel this morning! 🍩

A big thank you to Vaughn Industries for coming out today and supporting our students as they explore exciting opportuni...
02/10/2026

A big thank you to Vaughn Industries for coming out today and supporting our students as they explore exciting opportunities in the electrical field and construction trades.

We truly value the dedication and investment from our advisory members and industry partners. Your collaboration plays a vital role in shaping the future of these young individuals, helping guide their professional growth and opening doors to meaningful careers.

We can’t thank you enough for making a difference in their lives!



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🎉 So proud of our CTA students! 🎉Today, two of our outstanding students were selected to participate in the Student Show...
02/04/2026

🎉 So proud of our CTA students! 🎉

Today, two of our outstanding students were selected to participate in the Student Showcase at the Ohio State House in Columbus. They represented our program with professionalism, confidence, and pride.

Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to both the program and our community and customer service outreach truly stood out.

👏 Congratulations to Niles Bush and Kylee Crager for an amazing job today — well deserved!

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2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Road
Marion, OH
43302

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 3pm
Tuesday 8am - 3pm
Wednesday 8am - 3pm
Thursday 8am - 3pm
Friday 8am - 3pm

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