2018 Scholarship Winners Announced by Carolinas AGC

The Carolinas AGC Foundation Scholarship Program was established to assist those choosing to enter the construction industry as well as those wishing to advance their skills and/or knowledge in an effort to further their construction careers. The scholarship committee is given $12,000 to distribute to those applicants deemed the most deserving. After reviewing numerous impressive applications and hosting phone interviews with most of the candidates, the committee has selected five individuals whom they believe are going to be great assets to our industry.

University/4-Year College Scholarship:

The recipient of the $4,000 scholarship is Joelle Dvorak. Joelle wanted to be an auto mechanic, but her high school carpentry teacher is credited with getting her interested in construction. She is now a Construction Engineering student at her “dream college,” NC State University. Joelle hopes to bring more diversity to the construction industry as she continues to work toward her goal to be a project manager. She currently is an assistant superintendent/apprentice at C.T. Wilson Construction in Durham, N.C.

The recipient of a $2,000 scholarship is Hunter Henry. Hunter always thought that he would go into the medical field, until his grandfather, who was a residential contractor in Emerald Isle, N.C., drew him to the construction industry. A Construction Management student at East Carolina University, Hunter is scheduled to graduate in Spring 2019. Hunter always wants to make sure that he and his co-workers are taking safety seriously; he knows that all its takes is one mistake to get hurt on a jobsite. He currently works as a laborer/intern for Blue Rock Structures in Maysville, N.C.

Another recipient of a $2,000 scholarship is Christopher “Drake” Overton. Drake was always drawn to the water, thus went into Marine Transportation; however, he soon realized that he wanted to be home more. His sister, a project manager, piqued his interest in the construction industry. He is currently attending East Carolina University as Construction Management student. Drake serves as the Treasurer of the school’s AGC Student Chapter and will serve as Vice President next year. Among Drake’s many goals is to spread awareness of the great opportunities in construction to attract more young people to the industry.

Tech/Trade School Scholarship:

The winner of this year’s $2,000 tech/trade school scholarship is Melissa Page. Melissa is currently a student at Wake Tech Community College where she is studying Construction Management Technology. Melissa moved to the United States three years ago from Venezuela where she received her Bachelor of Architecture at Universidad del Zulia. She wants to be the connection between designers and builders to improve the quality of construction. Her dream job would be being a part of a team focusing on bringing a design on paper to a tangible reality for individuals and communities.

Industry Certified Advancement/Accreditation:

The winner of the $2,000 Industry Certification scholarship goes to Yulissa Moran. She will graduate from A.L. Brown High School in Kannapolis, N.C. in June 2018. Yulissa has been in the Pre-Apprentice program at Wayne Brothers, Inc. since February 2018. She will be joining Wayne Brothers’ Form Carpenter Apprenticeship Program this summer. Her family came to the United States from Mexico when she was five years old and she wants to give back to the community that has been so supportive of her. Her Craft Instructor at Wayne Brothers, Amanda Roberts, wrote “Yulissa has a unique combination of high standards, commitment, and work ethic that she can use to mentor those who choose to follow in her footsteps.

To ensure the construction industry’s successful future, it is imperative for the next generation of leaders to properly prepare themselves for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

– Carolinas AGC Foundation

Learn more by visiting CAGC’s website.