Contact: Kristi Pronovost
Director of Marketing & Communications
717.653.8106 or kristi@abckeystone.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 2, 2018
(MANHEIM, PA) Twelve deserving individuals were recently awarded scholarships from the Merit Shop Training and Research Center (MSTRC). The $21,000 in scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year brings the total to $494,000 that has been awarded by MSTRC since its inception, helping students entering a career path in the construction industry.
The purpose of the Merit Shop Construction Scholarship Program, sponsored by ABC Keystone and administered by the Merit Shop Training & Research Center (MSTRC), is to assist individuals seeking to further their education in the construction field. To be eligible, applicants must enroll in a trade school, college or university program that is directly related to a construction career. This includes skilled trades, engineering, or construction management. Students are evaluated on recommendations, academic achievement, initiative, and community and extra-curricular activities.
“ABC Keystone and the MSTRC are pleased to support these high-achieving students as they pursue careers in construction.” said Stephanie Larkin, Vice President of Education, Safety & Workforce Development, ABC Keystone. “With an aging workforce and difficulty attracting young people, the construction industry faces the reality of a workforce shortage, yet this year’s recipients are proof that there is some excellent talent in the pipeline. These scholarships are just one of the ways ABC Keystone members support efforts to develop the future of the construction industry.”
This year’s recipients are as follows, along with their hometowns and courses of study:
| First | Last | City | State | Amount | College | Program |
| Lauren | Herr | Lititz | PA | $4,000.00 | Penn College | Construction Management |
| Michael | Cowart | Kennett Square | PA | $3,000.00 | Penn State | Electrical Engineering |
| Tyler | Kleinsasser | Huron | SD | $3,000.00 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | Civil Engineering |
| Jacqueline | Thornton | Ronks | PA | $2,000.00 | Jefferson University | Architecture |
| Audrey | Bolesta | Allentown | PA | $2,000.00 | California Polytechnic State University | Architecture |
| Phillip | Bertovic | Middletown | PA | $1,000.00 | Penn State | Electrical Engineering |
| Daniel | Forry | Columbia | PA | $1,000.00 | York College of Pennsylvania | Engineering |
| Tyler | Bentz | Reading | PA | $1,000.00 | Penn State | Civil and Architectural Engineering |
| Devon | Berrios | Sioux Falls | SD | $1,000.00 | Southeast Technical Institute | Mechanical Engineering |
| Jacob | Stouffer | Chambersburg | PA | $1,000.00 | Penn College | Construction Management |
| John | Hosler | Lititz | PA | $1,000.00 | Penn State | Mechanical Engineering |
| Wesley | Sechrist | York | PA | $1,000.00 | Penn State | Architectural Engineering |
*Some individual photos available upon request
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The Merit Shop Training and Research Center, established by Associated Builders & Contractors, Keystone Chapter (ABC Keystone), is a non-profit fund whose mission is to provide financial assistance to students who have chosen construction-related career paths. The Center is funded by members of the Chapter, who have taken upon themselves the responsibility to be proactive in assisting men and women in their preparation for the construction industry.
