CEFD presents two scholarships in its first year

In January of this year, ABC reinstituted The Construction Education Foundation of Delaware or CEFD. This foundation is a 501 (c) 3 subsidiary of ABC Delaware. The mission of CEFD is to assist the construction industry's educational and training needs by offering scholarships to qualified construction education students.

The scholarship program was developed for students graduating from high school and continuing their education at a post secondary institution in a construction related field. The scholarship is available to dependents of employees who work for an ABC Delaware member or graduating vo-tech students who are a member of an ABC Delaware student chapter.

Applications were accepted by CEFD, and interviews with the finalists were conducted by a subcommittee of the ABC Careers in Construction committee. The scholarship winner receives $1,000. The winner can apply every year for an additional $1,000 as long as they are still in a construction related major and carry a 3.0 GPA. 

This year's scholarship finalists were so impressive that the CEFD subcommittee decided to recognize both of them.  Kaitlyn Kerr will recieve a one time stipend of $1,000 to begin her college career in construction.  

Careers in Construction Chairman John Gooden (left) and ABC Delaware Chairman Joe Swarter present Kaitlyn Kerr her scholarship.

Kaitlyn is senior who finished 19th out of 235 graduates at Hodgson Vo-tech with a 3.7 GPA. She has spent her education in the Electrical trades program and was Vice President of the ABC Student Chapter.  She is a member of the National Honor Society and will be attending Delaware Technical Community College in the fall to major in Construction Management.  Kaitlyn's goal is to one day own her own Electrical company. 

This year?s winner of the CEFD scholarship is Paul McMillan. Paul is a senior at Hodgson Vo-tech.  He will graduate 3rd out of 235 graduates with a 4.0 grade point average. He never received a B in any course during his 4 years at Hodgson. He will be attending the University of Central Florida in the fall and will major in Construction Engineering. He was the President of the ABC Student Chapter this past year and Vice President as a Junior.  Paul was a member of the Soccer and Baseball team at Hodgson. He is an active member of the Blue Gold Club which raises money for Special Olympics and Delaware Foundation for Retarded Children. Paul is also a member of the National Honor Society and volunteers for many organizations including the Ronald McDonald House.

Six vo-tech students honored

The ABC Delaware Careers in Construction Committee presented its annual Student Awards during the ABC Delaware May 5, 2011 dinner meeting in Newark.

These awards are given to a student enrolled in the construction trade curriculum that has shown outstanding academic achievement and completed a successful co-op program with an ABC Member. Each individual receives a toolbox and a gift certificate for $250 to a local supply house for them to purchase tools that can help them get started in the construction industry.  

An award is given to one student each at Howard and St. George's and two students each at Delcastle and Hodgson.    

Howard winner Tyler Smith (center) with ABC Delaware
Chairman Joe Swarter (left) and Nickle Electrical's Sandy Wandelt.