Six students in the Building Construction Management program at the University of North Florida were awarded Arnold Tritt Scholarships from the Northeast Florida Builders Association. The six, selected from a field of candidates based on need, shared $12,000, bringing the total of Arnold Tritt Scholarship funds distributed this year to $20,000.
“We were so impressed with all these candidates,” said Glenn Layton with North Florida Builders, A Woodside Company and chair of the scholarship committee. “These six young people represent the brightest and best in our industry, and they have demonstrated their commitment to the industry through volunteer projects and high standards of academic achievement.”
The Arnold Tritt Scholarship Fund was established to assist juniors and seniors in UNF’s Building Construction Management program, and are named after the longtime NEFBA executive.
The six:
Sarah Finlay, a senior, has been actively involved in various Builders Care projects including the recent “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” project in Hastings. She has expressed an interest in residential construction.
Cyrus Pattermann, an active-duty Marine and a senior, serves as vice president of the NEFBA-UNF Student Chapter. He is involved with HabiJax projects, Safe Harbor Boys Home and has been a driver for the Parade of Homes judges.
Luke Poynter is a senior with an interest in residential construction. Poynter is vice president of the NEFBA-Student Chapter at UNF. He participated in the Builders Care Ramp-a-thon and was a driver for Parade of Homes judges last year.
Jennifer Statlick is a junior whose interest in construction started when she took a drafting class in high school. Most recently she participated in the NEFBA Builders Care “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” show in Hastings.
Osiel Torres, a senior, is employed by Morales Construction Co. as an estimator and project manager. Torres has overcome language and financial barriers and is the first generation of his family to attend high school and college. He hopes someday to help low-income workers obtain suitable housing.
Josh Weaver, a junior, has participated in various charitable efforts through student and civic organizations. He is an assistant superintendent for Elkins Constructors and is currently working on the Jacksonville Public Library’s new downtown facility.
“Interviewing these candidates was very uplifting,” said Jerry Linder, NEFBA first vice president and a member of the scholarship committee. “They have experienced financial challenges that might have stopped someone else without as much determination. It has been a privilege to be part of the solution for these dedicated students.”
Applications for the 2006 Arnold Tritt Scholarship are available from the Northeast Florida Builders Association, 103 Century 21 Drive, Jacksonville, by calling 725-4355 and online at nefba.com. Awards will be made again at the Northeast Florida Installation Banquet.
Contributors to the fund include Frazier Dughi; Florida First Coast Development Corp.; Heritage Publishing; Jacksonville Homebuyer; KB Home; Kinco Ltd.; Sharon Strayer Learch, P.A.; Lockwood Quality Demolition; Lumber Unlimited; Merchandising Plus; NEFBA Staff; NAHB Past Presidents’ Scholarship; Providence Homes by Bill Cellar; Silverfield Development; The Dantzler Group; Toll Brothers; Tritt & Franson, P.A.; Lee Tritt; and WCI Communities.