For a seventh year, the KBE Foundation has awarded scholarships to 11 graduating students from the Connecticut Technical High School system, with the hopes of encouraging the State’s youth to pursue careers in the construction industry. To date, KBE has awarded $114,000 to 101 graduating technical high school seniors in the state. In previous years, the scholarship program was sponsored by KBE Building Corporation, a national construction services firm headquartered in Farmington, CT.
In early 2022, KBE created the KBE Foundation, a non-profit public charity under IRC sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1). Moving forward, the firm’s extensive philanthropic outreach program, which has donated more than $3.6 million since 2009, will continue under the auspices of the KBE Foundation.
This year’s awards totaled $18,000. The funds will help the students pay for the costs of post-high school education programs, certifications, and tools needed in the pursuit of a construction career. These programs include training programs in carpentry, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing trades, certification classes for state licensure as well as 2- and 4-year degree programs in construction management.
“The construction industry in Connecticut and across the nation is facing a dire shortage of qualified workers, from trade craftworkers to construction project managers and superintendents,” explains Robert Dunn, Esq., senior vice president of KBE Building Corporation. “At KBE, we believe we have a responsibility to encourage young women and men to pursue construction careers and help ensure a solid workforce for the future. One challenge is convincing students and their families that a construction career can be highly rewarding, both financially and personally.”
This year’s recipients include:
Anthony Peterson, Jr., Oliver Wolcott Technical High School (HVAC, plumbing trades)
Colin Magowan, Ella T. Grasso Southeastern Technical High School (construction management)
Daniel Meikle, Windham Technical High School (HVAC)
Dillion Cornell, H.H. Ellis Technical High School (HVAC, construction trades)
Ruben Baez, Emmett O’Brien Technical High School (HVAC trades)
Mario Lyn Quee, Oliver Wolcott Technical High School (plumbing trades)
Joseph Moscato, Emmett O’Brien Technical High School (HVAC trades)
Mike Lukaszewski, E. C. Goodwin Technical High School (HVAC trades)
Nasir Williams, Emmett O’Brien Technical High School (carpentry trades)
Joshua Rubin, J.M. Wright Technical High School (carpentry trades)
Michael Marti, Emmett O’Brien Technical High School (HVAC trades)
Nine of the 11 graduating Connecticut technical high school seniors who received collectively received $18,000 in scholarships from the KBE Foundation to help further their construction careers.