This year, BATC-Housing First Minnesota and the BATC-Housing First Minnesota Foundation are honored to award $20,000 in scholarships to 12 deserving recipients to help further their education and career goals within the residential homebuilding industry.
With a mix of backgrounds and interests in the trades, these 12 dedicated students are showing how bright and promising the future is for the construction industry.
DELANIE LAFAVE
Alexandria Technical & Community College, Carpentry
It started with a coffee table in one of her woodworking classes at her high school–it was then Delanie knew she wanted to build things with her hands. “I absolutely fell in love with building things … and the pure joy of seeing the end results.” Post-graduate plans include finding employment at a great homebuilding company and to one day own a homebuilding/interior design business.
NATHAN LITZAU
Ridgewater College, Construction Trades – Residential Electrician
Drawn to the electrician field due to its growing job opportunities and good pay, Nathan aspires of one day owning his own electrical company. “My biggest goal is to just do quality work and create a good name for myself and future business.”
DEREK LOCKWOOD
Northwest Technical College, Electrical Construction
As the son of an electrician, Derek aspires to one day be a foreman in the electrical field. His attention to detail and self-discipline have already attributed to his success in the classroom and on the football field. “I am proud to be pursuing a career in the trades and to work hard for a good living.”
JUWLE NAGBE
North Dakota State College of Science, Building and Construction Technology – Residential Home Construction
BREANNA NAVA
Minnesota State University – Mankato, Construction Management – Residential
After joining her veteran father on a volunteer project with Habitat for Humanity, Breanna saw “the kind of change [she] could do with more construction experience” and was driven to pursue a career in residential construction. She hopes to one day fulfill her goal of reducing homelessness by building tiny home communities for low income and homeless veterans.
HUDSON NEUMANN
Dakota County Technical College, HVAC & Refrigeration Technology
Participation in sports, volunteering and working 15-20 hours a week at multiple jobs, all while maintaining a high level of academic achievements, has provided Hudson with a strong work ethic. “Doing what I enjoy keeps me motivated … I am confident that I will continue this high level of work ethic into my future education and career in Minnesota.”
LUKE ROGERS
Dunwoody College of Technology, Residential Construction Management
When not working one of his part-time jobs, Luke can be found in his high school’s woodshop either building his own projects or assisting his instructor. He credits his woodshop teacher for introducing him to something he is extremely passionate about. “Construction is something that really interests me and is now a part of who I am.”
EVA SHAROT
Minnesota State University – Mankato, Construction Management – Residential
Eva chose to pursue a career in construction management for one main purpose. As a child, she had the opportunity to join her father at his company’s construction job sites and was increasingly displeased by the lack of females in the field and in the office. “The number of females in the construction business is widely outweighed by males, and I want to change that stigma and put myself out there.”
BRANDON SLONIKER
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Construction Management – Residential
From building houses made of Legos as a child to participating in a high school class that had students stick-frame a single-story home from start to finish, Brandon looks forward to be an integral part of making our communities better and building homes for families. “I want to continue building houses for as long as I can, hopefully instilling some of my passion into young men and women that are interested in the industry.”
CHASE STOCK
Dunwoody College of Technology, Project Management
Chase’s love of building comes from working alongside his dad on projects at their home and cabin and dreams of following in his dad’s footsteps in residential construction. “I may not be a 4.0 student … but I do love to build things and I know that my workmanship on projects comes through.”
DALLIN SWANSON
Saint Paul College, Electrical Technology
With a mother that is a general contractor and a significant father figure in his life that owns a log home building company, Dallin was exposed to the industry at a very young age. His time on worksites nurtured his love for working with his hands and educated him on the variety of work available with the trades. “I grew up in the trades. I enjoy hands on work … and the variety the trades offer to enrich day to day life.”
ALLEN WALOCK
Dunwoody College of Technology, Construction Management – Electrical Construction & Maintenance
After obtaining an associates degree in electrical construction nearly a decade ago and working on projects such as the MetroTransit Light Rail and residential homes, Allen returned to school to reach his next career goal – to be a project manager in the construction industry. “While it has been difficult being a student again, what I have learned thus far has solidified my belief that going back to school was the best thing I could have done for my career.”
