The Asheville Home Builders Association is proud to announce its four outstanding recipients of the 2017 AHBA Scholarship Award Program. Applications were accepted during the first quarter of 2017 and reviewed by AHBA members serving on our Scholarship Review Committee. Scholarships are awarded to students attending a college, technical school or seniors in high school preparing to study a construction related field.
Join us in recognizing and congratulating this year’s AHBA Scholarship Recipients. We applaud these students for their hard work and dedication within the construction industry and wish them the best on their future career endeavors.
NATHAN HALL
Studying: Engineering
Attending: Western Carolina University, beginning Fall 2017
Scholarship Award: $500
“As technology advances, building “green” homes and “smart” homes create a whole new opportunity in the home building industry. I look forward to being a part of engineering the next generation of housing. There is a world of opportunity in the home building industry which is only limited by imagination. By combining my imagination with my engineering degree, I feel I can make a huge contribution to the home of the future… Whether it be a tiny home with solar panels to provide its own electricity or a green house in the middle of a kitchen to provide fresh vegetable and herbs for cooking. I look forward to being able to collaborate with a team to engineer a better future for all of mankind.”
ASHLEY KEPLEY-STEWARD
Studying: Construction Management Technologies & Sustainability Technologies
Attending: A-B Tech Community College
Scholarship Award: $1,000
“In residential building, you never know what the day is going to hold; every day is new and exciting. I love the idea of being able to work in a fast-paced environment that will allow me to grow and expand my knowledge and skillset. My passion for green building and the sustainable market is based on the idea of creating a safe and long-lasting home for families. The rapid changes in technology in the field of green building provides me with a constantly evolving platform. I feel that the construction industry is going to make some big changes in the next few years. I’d like to be a part of implementing new ideas that will make homes safer and more sustainable for generations to come. My long term goal is to come into older homes and remodel them, making them safer and more efficient. Instead of destroying a part of history, I’d like to do my part to make it last longer.”
MARTIN SCHMEDT
Studying: Masters in Construction Management
Attending: Western Carolina University
Scholarship Award: $1,000
“As I progressed my way through the classes, I regained a long-lost passion for the process of making a blueprint come to life. With the continual variety of daily tasks on the job, the ability to work with a wide range of people, and the challenge of bringing green building processes into the mainstream – I have found my calling. The academic world and previous time spent “finding myself” have prepared me for a successful career dealing with the dynamic world of construction management. I look forward to bringing my design skills, people skills, and construction management skills into the world and becoming a force to be reckoned with in the building community.”
ZACHARY WHISENANT
Studying: Construction Science
Attending: University of Tennessee at Knoxville, beginning Fall 2017
Scholarship Award: $500
“I have known for a long time that I would eventually end up working in the construction industry. As a kid, one of my fondest memories was helping build a two-story log cabin in my backyard with my dad. Many nights were spent holding a light for my dad or driving home the last nail of the day. Even though I was only 12 years old, the feeling of watching a building slowly rise because of your hard work was such a satisfying feeling that has stuck with me ever since. My coursework will include business strategies, construction fundamentals, and environmentally conscious green construction. I believe that the future of building will involve green construction, so I will use want I learn to innovate the way homes are built in Western North Carolina.”
