In partnership with SkillsUSA, Fine Homebuilding has raised $70,000 to fund scholarships for students in construction-related fields. Here are the recipients of the 2018-2019 Carpentry Scholarships:
Caleb Erickson
Caleb Erikson is a Keep Craft Alive and SkillsUSA scholarship recipient pursuing carpentry. Caleb’s involvement with SkillsUSA stemmed from his love of carpentry and desire to challenge himself. He has been involved in competitions, made friends, and learned many “tricks of the trade” from his fellow competitors and even professional tradesmen. His involvement has kept him motivated to constantly improve and succeed in the trades. As a young child, Caleb never thought about going into the construction or carpentry business, but as he grew older and worked in jobs doing HVAC, remodeling, framing houses, and landscaping he realized that time and time again he really enjoyed the work he was doing. “I love being able to work on a job, see it from the start, invest my time and energy into getting the job done, and then be able to look back when it’s all finished and be able to say ‘I did that” he says. Once Caleb graduates he plans to do mission work with his church and make a difference in the world using the various skills he’s learned. The most important thing Caleb has taken away from his experiences is to always have a strong work ethic because with that anything can be accomplished.
Cody Flood
High school sophomore Cody Flood is a scholarship recipient pursuing carpentry. Cody’s experiences with building began when he was a young child. He and his brother would build fortresses and structures as a playful game, and he has had a passion for building and hands-on activities ever since. Cody’s passion for building has branched to other trades as well. Cody re-floored his entire home with his family, spiking a possible interest in flooring: “…when we finished I felt a sense of accomplishment that I had never felt before,” Cody stated. His passion and his experiences have convinced him to pursue a building career in the future. Cody has demonstrated strong leadership skills by acquiring the vice president position of the SkillsUSA chapter at his school and being a member of the Student Industrial Council at Dorchester Country Career and Technology Center. Cody has proven to balance employment, extracurricular activities, and high academic achievements in a mature and organized fashion that highlight his potential to have great success in the trades.
Grant Hansen
High school senior Grant Hansen is a fellow scholarship recipient hoping to pursue carpentry/construction. Grant was introduced to the art of construction and carpentry while looking for a summer job. He was hired by a local construction company and it turned out to be one of the best experiences of his life. Every summer since Grant has held a job there. “The action of working with the tools, climbing up and down the ladder or using my skills to help complete a project felt motivating and purposeful,” he says. Grant is eagerly determined to receive the most contemporary vocational and technical construction training available. He plans to attend Southeast Community College in Milford to complete a building construction technology program after graduation.
Hayden Hart
High school junior Hayden Hart, is another scholarship recipient pursuing carpentry. Hayden’s love for building began at the young age of eight when he and his father constructed their back porch together: “I did not actually know what to do due to the fact that I was so young, yet I loved the aspect of being able to build and be creative with it,” he says. The creativity, hands-on work, and challenges that come with building have motivated and fueled Hayden to pursue a career in not only carpentry but possibly in electrical work and welding as well. Although Hayden is most familiar with carpentry, he has a specific interest in welding and considers it to be a possible long-term career path. Hayden is dependable, hard-working, skilled, and motivated, skills that highlight his potential and ability to achieve great things in the building industry and beyond.
Help support next year’s scholarships by purchasing your #KeepCraftAlive T-Shirt. All profits from T-shirt sales will go to the Fine Homebuilding and SkillsUSA’s scholarship Fund.
