Continuing Education
HBAI scholarship program serves the future of the industry.
For nearly two decades, the Home Builders Association of Iowa Educational Corporation, a nonprofit entity that distributes scholarship funds, has been making it possible for young people to pursue careers in the construction field. Those efforts continue to grow, along with the industry.
“We’ve been holding the Doug Mayo Memorial Golf Invitational since Doug lost his battle with cancer in 2013,” says Jay Iverson, HBAI Executive Officer. “We limit it to 36 teams of four, and it sells out right away every year.”
Even with last year’s COVID pandemic, the HBAI was able to hold the event with some slight modifications to the day’s activities. This year’s outing is set for June 21 and serves as both fundraiser and celebration of this year’s scholarship recipients.
“Scholarship recipients have already been notified,” Iverson says. “But we invite them to attend the golf outing, and several are always able to come.”
Eighteen young people received scholarship funds this year, many of whom are repeat winners. “We have quite a few double and triple recipients. We don’t limit applicants to one time. They’re welcome to reapply throughout their program,” Iverson explains. “Recipients just have to be entering the skilled trades through an apprenticeship or educational program.”
Past honorees have been students pursuing degrees in the construction trades at state universities as well as individuals involved in community college and trade apprenticeship programs. This year, 11 of the 18 recipients were women, which Iverson says is another encouraging sign.
To date, more than $200,000 in scholarship funds have been awarded.
Iverson says, “We’d love to see the time when the scholarship program funds itself, when the interest from the funds is sufficient to maintain the scholarship awards. At this point, the fundraising events we hold annually raise enough to cover the year’s scholarships, and those donations continue to grow so we can continue to award more scholarships.”
Awareness of the skilled trades gap has risen in recent years, and enrollment in related programs has grown as well. However, the shortage of skilled workers remains a major concern in the industry. Scholarships like those offered by the HBAI of Iowa help bridge that gap and enable more young people to pursue these careers.
Doug Mayo, for whom the golf invitational is named, saw the declining numbers decades ago and became active in the HBA’s educational programs to help address that concern. Honoring his memory with this annual fundraiser helps keep both his passions and the skilled trades alive.
Similar scholarships have been established to recognize other HBAI members, including a new golf outing that expands the fundraising efforts to the eastern part of the state. “Cedar Rapids is holding its first golf invitational to honor late HBAI member Tari Dailey,” says Iverson. “Tari was past president and owner of Sunderlands and was active with Habitat for Humanity.”
The Tari Dailey Golf Invitational is scheduled for September 9 at Saddleback in Solon. Like the Des Moines event, registration is limited to 36 teams of four. Spots are still available for that event.
“We have a number of named scholarships that recognize longtime HBAI volunteers like Doug and Tari,” Mayo says. “When possible, we try to award those to applicants who have a connection with those members because that’s even more meaningful for everyone.”
Iverson says there are always opportunities for members to get involved and support the scholarship efforts and educational programs the HBAI supports even if there aren’t spots available for the golf outing. “We accept financial donations to the scholarship fund year-round. We also have a lot of members who have included a legacy to the fund in their wills,” he says. “Endowments, bequests, annuities, and trusts all ensure that the HBAI of Iowa Educational Corporation is able to support the industry well into the future.”
Continuing to support the education and training of future leaders is the best investment current members can make in the security of the industry. Closing the skilled trades gap may be a long-term project. These scholarship programs are one tool that makes that goal possible.
2021 Scholarship Recipients
- Ulrich Wolfe (Clemons)
Finance, Iowa State University
$1,500 Bob Friedrich Scholarship - Allison Bermel (Ames)
Interior Design, Iowa State University
$1,000 Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines Scholarship - Helen Bohnsack (Iowa City)
Biochemistry, Wartburg College
$1,000 Jeff Tegeler Scholarship - Miranda Farr (Swisher)
Mechanical Engineering, U of Wisconsin Platteville
$1,000 Garrett Farr Scholarship - Shanna Fellows (Albia)
Civil Engineering Iowa State University
$1,000 Professional Women in Building Scholarship - Ian Flint (Cedar Falls)
Engineering, Iowa State University
$1,000 Doug Mayo Scholarship - Aubrey Frey (Cedar Rapids)
Mechanical Engineering, University of St. Thomas
$1,000 Tari Dailey Scholarship - Kaitlyn Goth (Marcus)
Architecture, Iowa State University
$1,000 John Small Scholarship - Emily Greathouse (Ames)
Interior Design, Iowa State University
$1,000 Kenny Selzer Scholarship - Evaleen Hajek (North Liberty)
Business, Kirkwood Community College
$1,000 Home Builders Association of Iowa Past Presidents Scholarship - Izaak Hajek (North Liberty)
Business, Brigham Young University
$1,000 Home Builders Association of Iowa Past Presidents Scholarship - Sienna Hancock (Coggon)
Neuroscience, Allen College
$1,000 David Ealy Scholarship - Morgan Knoup (Urbandale)
Biology, UNI
$1,000 Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines Scholarship - Korey Kramer (Iowa City)
HVAC, Kirkwood Community College
$1,000 Tim Ruth Scholarship - Liam Latham (Eldridge)
Construction Management, Kirkwood Community College
$1,000 Tim Ruth Scholarship - London Wille (Van Meter)
Engineering, Iowa State University
$1,000 Scholarship - Spencer Zoet (Adel)
Business, Buena Vista University
$1,000 Charlie Wasker Scholarship - Rachel Strang (Iowa City)
Finance, University of Iowa
$500 Charlie Wasker Scholarship