Awards $65,000 in College Scholarship Grants
13 Scholars from the Hudson Valley Region were Named Recipients
TARRYTOWN, NY—As part of its mission to enhance the professionalism of the building and construction industries in the Lower Hudson Valley, the Construction Advancement Institute (CAI) this month awarded $65,000 in grants to 11 regional undergraduate students and two graduate students who are enrolled in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Technology, Construction Management or other related hard-science (STEM) programs this fall. CAI is the educational and advocacy organization aligned with the Building Contractors Association of Westchester & The Mid-Hudson Region, Inc.
The CAI Scholarship Committee reviewed more than two dozen scholarship applications, school transcripts and essays in August, explained CAI Chairman Mark Fante of Darante Construction Ltd. of Elmsford, NY. The awards to the 13 recipients are $5,000 grants for use during the current 2022-23 academic year.
“The money our industry raises and disburses for college scholarships is one of several annual charity efforts performed by members of the construction contracting community and aligned labor unions to benefit families and schools both in the Hudson Valley region and nationwide,” Mr. Fante said. “Our goal is to strengthen the ranks of engineers and technologists employed at the companies that are members of our association. It’s one more way the BCA works to keep our member companies competitive and keep our local economies growing.”
At an awards luncheon held Aug. 4 in Elmsford, NY, Mr. Fante presented a profile of the program since its inception in 2009. Among the findings, 54% of CAI grant recipients have or are now attending state institutions vs. 46% going to private colleges and universities. Some 57% attend in-state programs vs. 43% out of state. The top major fields of study, in order, are: Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture and Mathematics.
BCA Executive Director Matt Pepe also noted that students in Junior and Senior years (46%) received nearly equal scholarship support with students who are Freshman and Sophomores (47%), with the 7% going to graduate students.
Since its inception, the CAI Scholarship Program has awarded 106 grants to 62 students at more than 40 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. This year’s grant award of $65,000 also lifts the total scholarship awarded by CAI to $464,000 since its inception 14 academic years ago, when six grants were bestowed.
The following scholars were chosen from more than two-dozen applicants who applied for and were carefully considered by the CAI Scholarship Committee. They are:
Nicola Altomare, 22, of Yonkers, NY, is attending the Graduate School at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. Nicola is pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering. He is the grandson of a member of the Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1NY.
Valeriy Borkun, 20, of White Plains, NY, is a sophomore, who will be attending CUNY Queens College. Valeriy is pursuing a degree in Economics and Construction Management. He is the son of an employee of BCA member company LeChase Construction.
Taylor Bruck, 20, of New Paltz, NY is a junior attending SUNY @ Binghamton, NY. Taylor is pursuing a degree in Computer Science. She is the daughter of a member of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 137.
Massimo Fante, 20, of Sleepy Hollow, NY, is a junior attending Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Massimo is pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences. He is the son of BCA member company Darante Construction, Ltd.
Andrew Fortunato, 18, of Fairfield, CT, is a freshman who will be attending Bates College in Lewiston, ME. He is pursuing a degree in mathematics/economics. He is the grandson of a member of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 137.
Mark J. Griffin, 20, of Yonkers, NY, is a junior who attends the New York State University of Buffalo. Mark is pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering Mechanical Drawing. He is the son of an associate of the BCA-member company Yonkers Contracting Co.
Cooper Mistishin, 20, of Lake Arielp, PA, is junior who attends Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. Cooper is pursuing a degree in Software Engineering. He is the son of a BCA-member company Peckham Industries.
Daniella Mulvey, 22, of Valhalla, NY, is attending graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design in Philadelphia. Daniella is pursuing a Masters degree in Architecture. She is the daughter of a BCA-member company Stratis Contracting Corp.
Nicholas Mulvey, 19, of Valhalla, NY, will be attending Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. Nicholas is pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering. He is the son of a BCA-member company Stratis Contracting Corp.
Giuliana Piazza, 20, of Valhalla, NY, is a junior who attends Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. Giuliana is pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering. She is the daughter of an executive of a BCA-member company Piazza, Inc.
Joseph Piazza, 19, of Valhalla, NY, is a freshman who will be attending the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL. Joseph is pursuing a degree in Engineering. He is the son of an executive of a BCA-member company Piazza, Inc.
Anthony Sanseverino, 21, of Poughkeepsie, NY, is a senior who will be attending the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA. Anthony is pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering. He is the son of a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 137.
Wyatt Yates, 20, of Chappaqua, NY, is a junior who is attending Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. Wyatt is pursuing a degree in Industrial Design. He is the grandson of a member of Carpenters Local 279.
For additional information and to request an application for next year’s grants opportunities, please contact Laurel Brunelle at 914-631-1033 or laurel@bcanys.org.
Class of 2022
CAI scholarship recipients and committee members at an awards luncheon in early August. Seated from left, Wyatt Yates, Nicola Altomare, Andrew Fortunato, Guiliana Piazza, Massimo Fante, Cooper Mistishin and Valeriy Borkun. Standing, Ross Pepe of the BCA, grant recipient Joseph Piazza, BCA General Counsel Thomas Welby, Esq., BCA Chairman Fred Sciliano of LeChase Construction Services, CAI Chairman Mark Fante of Darante Construction, Ltd., Dominick Calgi of Calgi Construction Company, Jay Martino of Martino Contractors Inc., Jonathon Wohl of Wohl Diversified Services, grant recipient Mark Griffin and Matt Pepe of the BCA. (Not pictured, grant recipients Taylor Bruck, Daniella Mulvey, Nicholas Mulvey and Anthony Sanseverino.)