Building Futures Foundation Awards $17,000 in Scholarships & Grants

Tool Grant debuts to expand support of skilled trades

Vancouver, Wash – (July 16, 2019) – The Building Futures Foundation awarded nine students with academic scholarships and six electrical apprentices with tool grants at the Building Industry Association (BIA) of Clark County’s June dinner meeting on June 13. This marks the first time the program has expanded to include candidates pursuing careers in the skilled trades.

Made possible by a partnership with the Construction Industry Training Council of Washington (CITC), electrical apprentices were invited to apply for $500 Tool Grants. “It has been a long-time goal of the Foundation to create an avenue for supporting skilled trades people who are the life blood of our industry. We are so pleased with this opportunity to partner with CITC and are eager to increase our impact next year,” shared Avaly Scarpelli Executive Director for both the Building Futures Foundation and the BIA.

The inaugural group of Tool Grant recipients include:

Austin Moburg from Longview currently works for Advanced Electrical Technologies. In his first year he was a field/industrial worker. Since January, Austin has been working in a panel shop where he builds panels and wires up controls along with calibrating and instrument tech jobs. He is look forward to getting a new fluke meter and more hand tools!

Jose Mora works for BIA member company Bullseye Electric. He’s grateful for new tools that will allow him to become more efficient in his career and more valuable to his employer.

Rio Koford was injured and honorably discharged from the US Marine Corps and working on a smooth transition to civilian life. In five years, he’d like to be a journeyman working on solar panel installations.

Ryan Hurley graduated from Castle Rock High School last year. He loves the hands-on work of training as an electrician. In five years, his goal is to be a journeyman at a local shop. Ryan is looking forward to replacing some of his broken tools with this grant.

Tad Catlin recently got married and bought a house. Now he’s busy building a career that will build his future as he completes his first year as an electrical apprentice. Known as a “jack of all trades” he loves to help out friends and family with house and landscaping projects. Tad will be adding tools that will help him excel in his career.

Tanner Greene was a standout football lineman at Skyview High School. He graduated from high school with a diploma and an Associate’s degree from Clark College. He’s looking forward to getting some of his own tools rather than always borrowing them from his journeyman!

In addition to Tool Grants, the Building Futures Foundation continues to support students in Clark County who are pursuing a professional career in the building industry. The 2019 scholarship recipients are:

Alex Tetz is a student at the University of Washington pursuing a degree in construction management. He is excited to be joining the building industry (hopefully in Clark County) once he graduates in June of 2021. This summer Alex will be interning with MRJ Constructors in Seattle. His long-term goal is to be a project manager for a mixed-use construction company.

Alicia Wallingford is a graduate of Columbia River High School in Vancouver and has spent her high school years busy with International Baccalaureate classes, volleyball, and 4-H. She graduated in the top 5% of her class with her IB Certificate and five WIAA Scholar Athlete awards. She spent six years raising 4-H show steers to sell at the fair, and five years playing volleyball on both school and club teams. This fall, Alicia will be attending the University of Montana to study Business Administration & Land Surveying and play volleyball for the Grizzlies!

Bo Brabec graduated from Cedar Tree Classical Christian School in 2018 and has been pursuing a degree in business from Central Washington University. He plans on using his degree to continue to strengthen the family business of building custom homes in Clark County. Growing up in the business has given him a passion for real estate and he is excited to start his career in this field. Bo also enjoys the outdoors and spends as much time in the woods and on the river as possible.

Ellie Josephson has just completed her first year in PSU’s school of architecture. She has found that architecture is where her passion and purpose collide; the ability to make a difference through design. With a heart for sustainability, Ellie plans to use her skills to craft a better future for her generation and those to follow. Outside of school she edits videos for the school newspaper, works at a local restaurant, enjoys photography, creating art and hiking.

Eli Loudenback has always had a knack for building projects. From playing with LEGOS as a little kid, to building small backyard structures, Eli has always wanted to be building in his future. He also loves the outdoors, and spending time with family and friends. Recently graduated from Cedar Tree Classical Christian School, Eli is pursuing a civil engineering degree with an emphasis on structural from Boise State University

James Carmona just graduated from La Center High School and will attend OSU next Fall. He’s interested in taking his computer science degree and learning how to design software that could have a wide variety of applications impacting the building industry.

Kyle Brabec is a 2018 graduate of Hockinson High School. He now is a finance major at George Fox who is also looking to get his minor in entrepreneurship. He plays for the Bruin football team at linebacker and will be graduating in 2022. Kyle is currently working at Brabec Homes and Academy Mortgage as a client development specialist. He plans on becoming a real estate developer and builder once graduated.

Marissa Hunter just graduated from Cedar Tree Classical Christian School where she ran cross country and also played tennis and soccer. A fan of riddles and math, Marissa will study mechanical engineering at California Baptist University. She likes to work with her hands doing construction work and has been building houses in Mexico every summer for twelve years.

Michael Cline recently graduated from Camas High School. He has been active in Scouts, track and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2017. Michael intends to pursue Civil Engineering at Washington State University after completing his Associate’s degree at Clark College.

The Building Futures Foundation, a non-profit extension of the BIA, has promoted education, student scholarships and environmentally sensitive building practices in the construction industry since 2002.

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The Building Futures Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational foundation, which raises money via donations and event contributions, in an effort to award annual scholarships to local students pursuing an education and future career in the building trades.

The Building Industry Association (BIA) of Clark County is a non-profit trade association representing the interests of all businesses involved with real estate, land development, homebuilding and construction.