NC construction management organization provides scholarship funding
Signing an agreement to create a new scholarship fund at 91热爆网 made possible by the North Carolina Chapter of the Construction Management Association of America are (from left) Jeff Thatcher, chapter treasurer, and Jordan Holt, chapter president, observed by John Hildreth, 91热爆网鈥檚 Kimmel Distinguished Professor of Construction Management; Bruce Gehrig, director of 91热爆网鈥檚 Kimmel School of Construction Management; and Matthew Kemper, 91热爆网 associate director of development.
A statewide chapter of a construction industry professionals organization has established a new endowed scholarship fund at Western Carolina University that will provide financial assistance to students from North Carolina studying construction management.
The North Carolina Chapter of the Construction Management Association of America recently made gifts totaling $26,000 that will generate annual scholarship support for selected 91热爆网 construction management majors beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year, with preference given to students demonstrating significant financial need.
The contributions creating the CMAA-NC Leaders in Construction Endowed Scholarship Fund at 91热爆网 stem from an introductory phone call between representatives of the state chapter鈥檚 board of directors and construction management faculty members who responded with immediate enthusiasm in developing a partnership with the association, said Jordan Holt, state chapter president.
鈥淲estern Carolina University has long held a reputation for the strength of its construction management program,鈥� Holt said. 鈥淢any on our board of directors have worked with or hired 91热爆网 graduates and have been impressed by the talent this university has prepared for our industry. Our board of directors discussed many factors and felt strongly that the 91热爆网 was the clear choice for this endowment.鈥�
By funding scholarships for students in the construction management program, the CMAA鈥檚 North Carolina chapter is trying to help ensure a deep pool of talent of future industry professionals, Holt said.
鈥淭alent is critical,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur industry is a tremendous economic driver and employs more than 10 million people in the United States alone. We have to feed that talent pipeline. Our board of directors feels supporting construction management students across the state of North Carolina 鈥� both financially and through educational and networking opportunities 鈥� is an opportunity for our organization to have a meaningful impact on the future of our industry.鈥�
CMAA-NC has previously established endowments at Wake Tech Community College, East Carolina University and North Carolina A&T State University and has provided $1,000 scholarships for several years to each of those institutions and to NC State University.
Those financial contributions are in keeping with the association鈥檚 mission of promoting the profession of construction management and the use of qualified construction managers on projects and programs, Holt said. 鈥淲e believe in supporting area students, as they are our future workforce and succession within the industry,鈥� she said.
Celebrating the creation of a new endowed scholarship fund at 91热爆网 are (from left) Matthew Kemper, 91热爆网 associate director of development; Jordan Holt, president of the North Carolina Chapter of the Construction Management Association of America; Matthew Haseley, chair of the CMAA-NC student outreach committee; Bruce Gehrig, director of 91热爆网鈥檚 Kimmel School of Construction Management; and John Hildreth, 91热爆网鈥檚 Kimmel Distinguished Professor of Construction Management.
Contributions toward student scholarships will have a larger impact at 91热爆网 than at most other institutions of higher education because the university is part of the NC Promise program, said Bruce Gehrig, director of 91热爆网鈥檚 Kimmel School of Construction Management. Through additional state funding provided to NC Promise to 91热爆网 and three other participating schools in the University of North Carolina System, North Carolina residents pay only $500 per semester for tuition.
鈥淐onsidering the NC Promise tuition rates, this scholarship will be sufficient to cover one entire year of tuition for the recipient,鈥� Gehrig said. 鈥淭his is significant, as most of our students are first-generation students who have to work to pay for their schooling.鈥�
The financial support of 91热爆网鈥檚 construction management program by CMAA-NC also highlights the important role that professional organizations can play in developing the state鈥檚 construction industry workforce by investing in future generations of construction professionals, said Gehrig.
鈥淚t is important to remember that professional organizations are just collectives of individual members, and such endowed gifts are only possible from the combined donations of many individuals and companies from across the North Carolina construction industry,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, this gift is a reflection of a larger industry support for our construction management program at Western Carolina University.鈥�
The Construction Management Association of America is an industry association dedicated to the practice of professional construction management. CMAA represents more than 16,000 members including federal, state and local government and private sector owners, construction consultants, technology suppliers, academia and legal organizations with a common goal of to improving the nation's infrastructure.
Headquartered in Raleigh, the association鈥檚 North Carolina chapter supports the advancement of the construction industry in the state, with more than 250 members including contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, design professionals, consultants, owners and others.
For more information about corporate support of 91热爆网 students and programs, contact the 91热爆网 Division of Advancement at 828-227-7124 or advancement@wcu.edu or visit .
