Back Row (L-R): The Construction Advancement Institute (CAI) Scholarship Committee – Ross J. Pepe, president, Building Contractors Association of Westchester and Mid-Hudson Inc. (BCA)/Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley Inc. (CIC); Dominic Calgi, Calgi Construction Company Inc.; CAI Chairman Mark Fante, Darante Construction Ltd.; Jonathan Wohl, Wohl Diversified Services; Laurel Brunelle, program coordinator, CAI; BCA Chairman Fred Sciliano, LeChase Construction Services; Anthony Rodrigues, Roger & Sons Concrete Inc.; and, Jay Martino, Martino Contractors Inc.
As part of its mission to improve the building and construction industry sectors, the Construction Advancement Institute recently awarded $45,000 in grants to nine regional undergraduate students who are enrolled in engineering, architecture, construction technology, construction management, or other related programs this fall.
CAI is the educational and advocacy organization aligned with the Building Contractors Association of Westchester and Mid-Hudson Inc.
On July 10, the CAI Scholarship Committee held an awards luncheon near the its headquarters in Tarrytown, where Chairman Mark Fante of Darante Construction Ltd., in Elmsford, presented nine $5,000 grants to students for use in the upcoming 2018-19 academic year.
“The money our industry raises and disburses for college scholarships is one of several annual charity efforts performed by members of organized labor and construction contracting companies for the lower Hudson Valley communities,” said Fante. “Our goal is to strengthen the ranks of engineers and technologists employed in the region, to help keep our local economies competitive and growing.”
The following scholarship awardees from Westchester were chosen from more than two dozen applicants and were judged by the CAI Scholarship Committee:
Nicola Altomare of Yonkers will be attending Rensselear Polytechnic Institute in Troy to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. He is the grandson of a member of the Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1 New York.
Paul Briggs of Shrub Oak attends Manhattan College in Riverdale, pursuing a degree in civil engineering. He is the son of an associate of the BCA member company Sentrale Contracting, Inc., in White Plains.
Andrew Griffin of Yonkers attends New York State University at Buffalo, pursuing a degree in architecture. He is the son of an associate of the BCA member company Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc.
Albert Rossi of Shrub Oak will be transferring from Westchester Community College in Valhalla to Manhattan College in Riverdale, to continue to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. He is the son of a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 137.
The CAI College Scholarship Program offers $5,000 grants to incoming and currently enrolled undergraduate students. Scholarships are available for students of families employed at companies that are members of the BCA, as well as non-member independent contractors who contribute to qualifying industry advancement funds. Applications are also accepted from eligible students related to members of the following building construction union locals: Bricklayers Local 1, Carpenters Local 279, Laborers Local 235 and Operating Engineers Local 137.
For more information about the program, contact Laurel Brunelle at 914-631-1033 or laurel@bcanys.org. Scholarship applications for the 2019-20 school year will be available at www.caiwestchester.org next spring.
