Ventura County Contractors Association, Women in Construction award $15,000 in academic scholarships to local students.

The Ray Prueter Scholarship, created by the VCCA Construction Education Fund, is financed through contributions by more than 600 members and is dedicated to assisting local students in pursuing a career in the construction.

Each year, the Ventura County Contractors Association and local chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction join forces to present academic scholarships to area students pursuing a career in construction-related fields.

During a banquet on May 23, 10 local students were awarded a combined total of $10,000 in scholarship money. In addition, $5,000 was awarded to eight students studying curricula of drafting. More than165 attendees, including members, students and parents were present to congratulate 2007 scholarship recipients.

VCCA Ray Preuter Scholarship winners included: Marian Avery, Foothill Tech (architecture); Julianna Coldwell, Cal State Northridge (Civil Engineering); Demetri Golpashin, Moorpark Community College (Architecture); Daniel Gonzalez, Ventura Community College (Construction Technology); Domingo Hernandez, Central Arizona College, (Diesel Technology); Todd Landsman, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Mechanical Engineering); Donald Nielson, Ventura Community College (Urban Planning); Allison Piehn, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (Architecture); Oscar Santana Central Arizona College (Diesel Technology); and Liopoldo Simental, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Architecture).

Scholarship applicants were chosen from among students enrolled in a Tri-County area high school, college or accredited construction-related trade school or apprentice-training program. "Recipients of scholarships are not selected based on grade point averages alone," says Laurie Bennett, a chairperson on the VCCA scholarship committee. "We take effort, determination and financial needs into consideration as well."

Bennett says one-third of this year's winners were women, a testament to the growing opportunities women have in construction. "Construction careers are much more than working at a job site," she says. "We are seeing an influx of people of both genders and age ranges entering this profession."

"It is becoming a nationwide practice to encourage students to take an interest in construction careers — not just in drafting or engineering fields. Locally, Ventura College currently offers construction technology courses to educate students in the many options available in the construction industry," Bennett says. "We need to encourage a broader scope of hands-on trades such as heavy construction mechanics to join the construction force — a force that can get out from behind a computer and think and solve problems on the job site."

Bennett says funding a scholarship program is just one way professional local contractors can encourage like-minded individuals in pursuing their dreams.

The VCCA office is at 1830 Lockwood St., Suite 110 in Oxnard. For more information call 981-8088, e-mail vcca@vccainc.com or visit online at www.vccainc.com.