Scholarship

History of the HRUHCA
Memorial College Scholarship Foundation

The HRUHCA Memorial College Scholarship Foundation was formed early in the history of HRUHCA, but the program gained significant momentum when HRUHCA member Allan Gibbs, owner of HRUHCA contractor member firm Orion Associates, began his tenure as Chairman in 1997 (Allan continues to lead the scholarship foundation as chairman).

Allan formally organized the program as a charitable foundation and actively solicited the initial funding that was the “investment base” upon which the program has depended on for the past eighteen years.

The scholarships are given in memory of industry friends, relatives, and loved ones. Those people who have been memorialized include: Sam Archbell, Harry Breakfield, Mike Corbin, W. Preston Fussell, Howard E. Gibbs, Dave Hawley, Cole S. Hilfiger, George Hunt, C. Roger Malbon, Dave McSweeney, Buggs Moran, Douglas W. Talbot, Clinton Teets, and Ruth and Elmer Womack.

Eligibility is available for any applicant who is a HRUHCA member, the employee of a HRUHCA member firm, or a child whose relative works for a HRUHCA member firm who will be enrolling in, or is currently attending a full-time academic or technical institution.

The successful applicant(s) are judged on a number of different criteria, including (but not limited to): 1) Grades in high school/college/technical college; 2) Participation in extracurricular activities and community activities; 3) Interest in the construction industry; and 4) Financial need.

in 2014, a number of the most senior members of the HRUHCA membership were organized as a formal “steering committee” and leadership group. The group met and decided to initiate a campaign to raise additional funds in order to increase the scholarship award levels and also to allow the foundation to only use the interest on the principle of the scholarship fund.