Home Builders announce Statewide Scholarship winners

Home Building News - July 2008The Home Builders Foundation of Metropolitan Portland recently announced three Oregon college students will be awarded $4,500 in Building Industry Scholarship Competition awards from the Jim Irvine Statewide Scholarship Fund.The fund was created as part of a statewide effort to raise awareness and access for Oregon students following careers in construction.“These scholarships are one way the Home Builders Foundation is working to secure the future of the home building industry,” said Dale DeHarpport, statewide advisor from Portland. “We’re proud to support these young people as they work to become tomorrow’s industry leaders.”To date, the statewide awards bring the Foundation’s workforce development and educational scholarships to more than $80,000.This year’s recipients are:Marc Holt, pursuing his Masters Degree in Architecture at the University of Oregon’s Portland campus, will receive a $1,500 HBF Building Industry Scholarship.Erin Lomasney, majoring in Housing Studies at Oregon State University, will receive a $1,500 HBF Building Industry Scholarship.Kelly Gustafson, majoring in Architectual Studies (computer aided) at Rogue Community College, will receive a $1,500 HBF Building Industry Scholarship.To qualify for the scholarships, students must be enrolled full-time at any college, studying one of several approved programs in building and architectural fields and must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average.Scholarship recipients are paired with mentors – builders, architects, designers, engineers, remodelers and other industry professionals who work with the students to ensure they receive relevant work experience as well as financial assistance.“We combine financial assistance with professional experience to help develop future industry leaders,” said Foundation Director Mel Duncan. “The mentoring component is the lifeblood of our program. Students say they really appreciate the opportunity to apply what they are learning in a real life setting.”The Jim Irvine Statewide Scholarship Fund is one of three scholarship programs administered by the Home Builders Foundation. The other two are the Gary E. Milgard High School Scholarship Competition and Building Industry Scholarships of Metropolitan Portland.The Statewide Scholarship Advisory Committee, who selected the recipients, is comprised of a Foundation Board liaison and directors from around the state, appointed by the Oregon Home Builders Association. The 2008 recipients will receive their awards at the Foundation’s Donor Appreciation Lunch, held in August at the 2008 Street of Dreams.