The North Carolina Home Builders Educational & Charitable Foundation selected five students as recipients of education scholarships in 2009. Students were nominated by members of the North Carolina Home Builders Associations and are family members (i.e. children, step-children, or grandchildren) of NCHBA member firms. The scholarship awards are presented annually to four-year college students entering their junior or senior year or two-year technical school students entering their second year who have declared a construction-related major. Scholarships are based on a combination of need and merit. Preference goes to students attending college or technical school in North Carolina.

The following students each received $3,000 scholarships for the 2009-2010 year:

Zachary Hussey of Robbins
Hussey is continuing his education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He graduated in Spring 2009 with an associate’s degree from Sandhills Community College with a degree in Civil Engineering Technology and Surveying Technology and is pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering Technology at UNC-C. Hussey has worked with his father, a 30-year veteran home builder, and enjoys the exposure of the various trades involved in seeing a construction project from start to finish.

Matthew Mounie of Marvin
Mounie studies construction management and business at Appalachian State University. Each summer Mounie works for his father’s company, New Wave Development, which he hopes to run some day with the help of his brothers.  Mounie says his biggest accomplishment was earning the Eagle Scout award because of the hard work, determination and leadership skills needed to achieve the goal.

Donald Smith Jr. of Matthews
Smith is majoring Construction Management at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has gained experience in the building industry helping his father with his construction company, Embassy Homes Inc. Donald is a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and enjoys sports. He was named “Most Dedicated Runner” during his freshman year on the cross country team at UNCC.  

Jacob Willis of Morehead City
Willis is majoring in Mechanical Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He plans to get his Master’s Degree and enter the HVAC industry to design commercial and residential HVAC systems that will be economically and ergonomically acceptable in the future. In his spare time, Jacob enjoys drag racing, sports and working on cars. With the help of his dad and brother, he recently built his own drag racing car to race at the NHRA tracks.

The following student received a $1,500 scholarship:

Donald Page of Pfafftown
Page received a scholarship for the Fall 2009 semester, as he completes his construction management degree at East Carolina University in Greenville.  Page came to the decision to enroll in construction management from his past experience building homes for impoverished families with his church group and also through his experience working at West End Construction in Winston-Salem. He is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and serves as the Vice President of Sigma Lambda Chi (Construction Management Honor Fraternity/Society).

Check out the October issue of North Carolina Builder for photos of each scholarship recipient.