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 Construction and Drywall Scholarships:
Cameron Galloway
Senior Cameron Galloway is one of the Keep Craft Alive and SkillsUSA scholarship recipients pursuing building construction. Cameron’s most valued takeaway from SkillsUSA was to always work as hard as he possibly can, while completing each task to the best of his ability- and that’s exactly what he does on a daily basis. Although young, Cameron has helped build a community museum in his local town, and was chosen to participate in the SkillsUSA Career Pathways Industrial and Engineering Technology and Chapter Display competitions. Cameron placed first at the state level in both of them in 2017 and 2018. He was also named the SkillsUSA school-wide AM chapter president, participated in the National Association of Home Builders Residential Construction Management Competition, named the 2018 NAHB student of the year, Building Construction Senior of the Year, and the 2018 Salutatorian all at at A.W Beattie Career. Cameron states, “Career and Technical education is something that I am so very grateful that I was a part of and I plan on taking what I have learned through my trade and doing great things in the future.”
Jose Lopez
High school junior Jose Lopez is also a scholarship recipients hoping to pursue construction management. When Jose was a child he saw a commercial construction site for the first time and it immediately sparked his interest in construction. Since that moment, his interest in building has only grown stronger. He went from constructing buildings out of Legos, to helping his uncle build a shed, to pursuing his dream of being a project manager. Jose possesses many skills which aid him greatly in achieving his goals, “I have the ability to schedule, estimate and evaluate…I have excellent leadership skills and I like to be on top of everything,” he says. The scholarship awarded will aid Jose’s plan to get a part time internship, join ASU to further his education, and eventually obtain a bachelor’s degree in construction management.
Michael Knoechel
High school senior Michael Knoechel is one of the awarded Keep Craft Alive and SkillsUSA scholarship winners hoping to pursue a career in construction technology. After Michael involved himself in SkillsUSA through the Construction Technology Program at the Delaware Area Career Center, his life and future became redefined for the better. Michael found that he not only learned numerous technical skills but also interpersonal skills that have shaped him into not only a better worker, but an overall better person as well. Working with construction technology has taught him a lot thus far but the most valuable lessons he learned were in planning and leadership. Michael has taken his passions outside of the learning environment, “I also participated in volunteer projects around my community including building dog and cat houses for the local humane society, constructing wood duck houses for the community state park, and erecting equine bleachers for the county fairgrounds,” Michael says. Doing all of these things has given him a special appreciation for the impact the construction industry has on a community.
Brandon Copenhaver
High school senior Brandon Copenhaver is a scholarship recipient hoping to pursue drywall. His love for building started at a young age with small projects that he completed with his family members, his passion for it continued to grow since then. Brandon was inspired by one of his teachers who once told him, “I want to be able to one day show my family the work I’ve done and be proud of it.” Since then, Brandon has incorporated this inspiration in his daily life, in and out of the workplace and classroom environments. It drives him to do everything to the best of his ability, no matter how significant the task. Brandon can be seen demonstrating his hard work ethic and determination not only in school, but at Troup’s Drywall and RemBrandt homes drywalling where he works after school, taking up about 30 additional hours every week. His impressive attitude and skill set has led to his acceptance from Stark State College Civil Engineering for Construction Management. Brandon said, “I plan to use this scholarship to help expand my opportunity to progress my knowledge in the trade and keep my passion growing.”
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.
