Once again, the 2024 Mortar Net Solutions Masonry Apprentice Scholarships have been delivered to 40 apprentices across the country who have exhibited energy, ability, and dedication to the trade.
The scholarship Began in 2019 with four scholarships presented across the Southeast of the United States. Beginning with two sponsors, we began supporting the masonry apprenticeship with what we knew. Now, after several years of learning, mistakes, cold calling, and promotion, the scholarship has grown into something everyone who is a part of is proud to be a part of. I proudly list our sponsors as a thank you and a way to show how tremendous their efforts are in making the Mortar Net Solutions Masonry Scholarship a true success. I do not have as big a part as each sponsor does, and everyone who is a part of this scholarship can say they make a difference. If you are interested in seeing the massive social media effort put forth by the schools that are recipients of the awards, you can begin by following Mortar Net Solutions on Instagram or Facebook at Mortar Net Solutions. The post will highlight the students as they receive the awards and give them a chance to show the world truly how great training in our trade is.
This year, we were able to double our sponsors for this event and create our best scholarship presentation to Date. I want to thank Greg Skyta for his assistance in putting this scholarship together. You would not believe how many dumb questions I ask him each year…. Okay, if you know me, you are not surprised.
If you are interested in learning more about submitting a student or becoming a sponsor, contact Steven Fechino at sfechino@mortarnet.com.
Our sponsors are dedicated to this effort and have gone above and beyond to help us get to this point.
- Keene Building Products: Branded Shirts, Branded Pencils, Branded Water Bottles, and Branded Sunglasses. Thank you, Jim Keene and Sharon Mersek,
- Kapro Tools: Branded Masonry Squares and Branded Kapro 48-inch Levels. Thank you, Stacy King, Danielle Jones and Alan Vespo
- Bon Tools: Branded Brick Trowel, Branded Margin Trowel, Branded Convex Joiner, Branded Ball Cap. Thank you, John Bongiovanni and Dan Rice
- Grout Grunt Scoops: Branded and Improved Grount Grunt Scoops. Thank you, Morgan Agazzi
- Trufast Walls: Branded and Embroidered Carhart Hats. Thank you, Mitch Mahler
- Arizona Masonry Council: Branded and Embordered Arizona Masonry Council Hats. Thank you, Cassie Majia
- Advanced Building Products: Branded Jag Clamps. Thank you, Keith Lolley and Katy Peabody
- The Build Show: Branded Build Shirts and Stickers. Thank you, Andy Moore and Matt Risinger
- Brick Industry Association: Branded Standard Brick Spacing Tape Measures. Thank you, Bryan Light
- Masonry Contractors Association of America: Branded Shirts, Magazine Subscriptions, Masonry Magazines, Branded Pens and Stickers. Thank you, Jeff Buczliewicz and Dan Kamys
- Glen Gery Brick: Branded Line Pins, Branded Twigs, Branded Pens, Horse Hair Brushes and Branded Shirts. Thank you, Nathan Karaway, Leroy Danforth, and Stan Harwell
- National Center for Construction Education and Research: A Digital Copy of the NCCER Manual for the Current Year of their Study. Thank you, Melissa Perkins and Zoe Nembhard
- Wire-Bond: Branded Knives for Jobsite Work. Thank you, Mike Ripley and Sal Biundo
- Malta Dynamics: Branded and State of the Art Apex Safety Helmets. Thank you, Bethany Hesson
- The National Brick Research Center at Clemson University: Branded Jobsite Notebooks and Branded Cooling Rags. Thank you, John Sanders
- McGee Brothers: Branded Jobsite Knives and McGee Brothers License Plates. Thank you, Kale Hallman
- Brickworks Supply Center: Branded Shirts, Line Pins, and Twigs. Thank you, Nathan Karaway
- Mortar Net Solutions: Branded Mortar Net Solutions Scholarship Shirt, Branded and Embordered Tool Bags, Branded Line Blocks, Branded Twigs, Mortar Boards, Sled Runner, Caulking Trowel, Brick Hammer, Plugging Chisel, Brick Set, Ball Caps and Koozies and Braided Line. Thank you, Greg Skyta
The Student List for 2024 includes:
- Armondo Acedo: Western Maricopa Education Center, Instructor: Cassie Majia
- RJ Jackson: Columbus Career & College Academy, Instructor: Fred Mason
- Devon Riddle: Carroll County Public School, Instructor: Mike Campanelli
- Jayden England: CAT NORTH Center for Applied Technology, Instructor: Paul Ferenc
- Daryl Branham: Carroll County Public School, Instructor: Mike Campanelli
- Daniel Garcia: NCMCA, Instructor: Ryan Shaver
- Jacob Amburn: Claiborne High School, Instructor: Dustin Love
- Octavious Acklin: NCMCA, Instructor: Ryan Shaver
- Brian Rojas: Hamblen County High School, Instructor: Dustin Love
- Andres Vargas Alvarado: NCMCA, Instructor: Ryan Shaver
- Connor Kilpatrick: CAT NORTH Center for Applied Technology, Instructor: Paul Ferenc
- Hector Garcia: Columbus Career & College Academy, Instructor: Fred Mason
- Danny Jackson: Wallace Community College Selma, instructor: Kenny Allen
- Cory Long: Columbus Career & College Academy, Instructor: Fred Mason
- Kolby Beaghan: Carroll County Public School, Instructor: Mike Campanelli
- Carlos Umanzor Gamez: NCMCA, Instructor: Ryan Shaver
- Krysun Johnson: Wallace Community College Selma, Instructor: Kenny Allen
- Aaron Charles: CAT NORTH Center for Applied Technology, Instructor: Paul Ferenc
- Alejandro Yolimea: Western Maricopa Education Center, Instructor: Cassie Majia
- Austin Rossbach: CAT NORTH Center for Applied Technology, Instructor: Paul Ferenc
- Zyar Diehl: Carroll County Public School, Instructor: Mike Campanelli
- Abril Baza: Columbus Career & College Academy, Instructor: Fred Mason
- Dentra Palmer: Wallace Community College Selma, Instructor: Kenny Allen
- Gage Ruark: Parkside CTE, Instructor: Josh Johnson
- Trevian Whichard: NCMCA, Instructor: Ryan Shaver
- Abril Baza: Columbus Career & College Academy, Instructor: Fred Mason
- Demarcus McCray: NCMCA, Instructor: Ryan Shaver
- Anthony Tecan: Parkside CTE, Instructor: Josh Johnson
- Ricardo Gonzalez: Queen Anne’s County High School, Instructor: Mike Blackston
- Adam Perkey: Resource Valley Construction Training, Instructor: Dustin Love
- Devion Savage: Wallace Community College Selma, Instructor: Kenny Allen
- Jason Hernandez: Hamblen County High School, Instructor: Dustin Love
- Nicholas Davidson: Chattanooga Masonry Association, Instructor: Dustin Love
- Jake Gazaway: NCMCA, Instructor: Ryan Shaver
- Gerson Ramirez: Queen Anne’s County High School, Instructor: Mike Blackston
- Kirstyn Pressel: CAT NORTH Center for Applied Technology, Instructor: Paul Ferenc
- Olivia Folke: Parkside CTE, Instructor: Josh Johnson
- Colby Hildreth: NCMCA, Instructor: Ryan Shaver
- Randall Cinnamon: Claiborne High School, Instructor: Dustin Love
- Cory Long: Columbus Career & College Academy, Instructor: Fred Mason
As you can see, it was fun to be a part of this event. The students who receive the scholarships all learn of them on the day they are presented; we try never to let them know that they are even in the running, making it even a bigger surprise for the student. We are proud of all 184 students who have received a scholarship to Date.
