CCDI - Construction Career Development Initiative

As we conclude our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship spotlight series, we are proud to recognize A'Mara Hollamon. A'Mara is a recent graduate of McCluer North High School and North Tech, where she was part of the Construction Trades program. Throughout her high school journey, she demonstrated creativity, determination, and a passion for building a future that creates opportunities not only for herself, but for others as well.

This fall, A'Mara will continue her education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she plans to pursue a degree in Architecture with a minor in Construction Management. Her goal is to combine design, innovation, and construction expertise to create spaces that positively impact the communities they serve.

What stands out most about A'Mara is her commitment to lifting others up along the way. She understands the importance of representation, mentorship, and creating pathways for future generations to succeed.

In her scholarship essay, A'Mara shared: "I want to help open doors for others who may not always feel seen or supported, just like I once did. I plan to give back by mentoring younger students, encouraging others to consider careers in construction, and helping bring opportunities to my community."

That mindset reflects exactly what the Build Our Future Scholarship program is all about. Investing in students who will not only pursue their own goals, but who will also return to strengthen and inspire the communities around them. Congratulations, A'Mara. We are proud to have you as part of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship class and cannot wait to see the impact you will make in the years ahead.

Our next 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship spotlight is Jala Griffin. Jala is a recent graduate of Riverview Gardens and North Tech, where she completed the Electrical program and developed a passion for the skilled trades. As one of our Trades Scholars, she will continue her technical education this fall at Ranken Technical College as she works toward her goal of becoming an electrician.

Jala's journey is a testament to the impact that great teachers and mentors can have on a student's future. Throughout her time at North Tech, she found both encouragement and inspiration in her electrical instructor, Mr. Merritt, who helped her build confidence in her abilities and challenge herself to reach higher. In her scholarship essay, Jala shared, "My teacher, Mr. Merritt, played a major role in fostering my passion for the electrical trades. He pushed me to think critically, take pride in my work, and believe in my abilities."

Education and service have always been important values in Jala's family. Her mother is an educator at Believe Academy in St. Louis, and that commitment to learning has helped shape Jala's outlook and work ethic. As the middle child in a family of six, she also embraces the responsibility of setting a positive example for her younger siblings and showing them what can be achieved through hard work, perseverance, and determination.

Jala has already demonstrated the drive, character, and commitment needed to succeed in the electrical industry. We are excited to support her as she takes this next step at Ranken and begins building a bright future in the skilled trades. Congratulations, Jala. We are proud to have you as part of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship class.

As we continue our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship spotlight series, we are excited to recognize Sophia Luraschi. Sophia is a recent graduate of Pattonville High School, where she excelled both inside and outside the classroom, earning an impressive 4.1 GPA. Throughout high school, she was actively involved in National Honor Society, Student Council, LINK Crew, Millstone Weber's Project PAVE program, CCDI, and multiple sports, demonstrating leadership, commitment, and a passion for serving her school community.

This fall, Sophia will attend Missouri Baptist University, where she will continue her soccer career while participating in a dual degree program with the University of Central Missouri. She plans to earn a bachelor's degree in Construction Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship, with the goal of becoming a Project Manager.

Sophia's journey is already off to an exciting start. This summer, she was selected as one of our high school interns and earned a coveted spot with S. M. Wilson & Co - Construction Managers. Through support from the American Family Dreams Foundation Grant, CCDI is helping fund her summer internship experience.

What makes this opportunity even more special is that Sophia will be working on S.M. Wilson's Pattonville Heights Middle School project, the very middle school she attended as a student. Few people get the chance to contribute to a project that has such a personal connection to their own educational journey.

It is a true full-circle moment and a perfect example of how workforce development programs can connect students to meaningful career opportunities right in their own communities. Congratulations, Sophia. We are proud to support you as part of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship class and cannot wait to see where your talent, leadership, and determination take you next.

Our next 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship spotlight is Brooklyn Elliott. Brooklyn is a senior at Pattonville High School graduating with an outstanding 4.3 GPA and a 31 ACT score. This fall, she will attend Missouri S&T to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Brooklyn’s accomplishments extend far beyond the classroom. She is involved in 10 different school clubs and activities and has earned a top seat in orchestra as a violinist, demonstrating both discipline and creativity in everything she pursues. Her passion for learning was inspired at an early age by her mother, a second grade teacher in the Ritenour School District, who helped foster Brooklyn’s curiosity, work ethic, and love of education.

Brooklyn is entering one of the most rigorous and demanding engineering fields with both confidence and purpose. She understands the importance of representation and hopes to help create more opportunities for future generations pursuing STEM careers. In her scholarship essay, Brooklyn shared: “As a Black girl pursuing engineering, I am entering a field where people like me are underrepresented, and financial barriers often make that path even harder to access. With this scholarship, I can take the first steps toward a career centered on inclusive innovation.”

Brooklyn represents the next generation of engineering leaders whose talent, determination, and vision will help shape the future of our industry. We are incredibly excited to support Brooklyn as she begins this next chapter at Missouri S&T and cannot wait to see all she accomplishes in the years ahead.

Rounding out week two of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship announcement series is Trades scholarship recipient, Craig Hutchinson. Craig is a dual enrolled student at Hazelwood West High School and North Tech, where he is part of the Electrical program. This fall, he will continue his technical training at Ranken Technical College - St. Louis as he works toward a career in the electrical industry.

Craig is passionate about the role electrical systems play in shaping the world around us and creating smarter, more efficient infrastructure. He has been part of the CCDI program for the past two years and participated in our Saturday Academy sessions. What makes Craig stand out is not only his career ambition, but his desire to create opportunities for others and contribute to a more inclusive industry. In his essay, he wrote about wanting to use his future skills to help build spaces where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to succeed.

Craig’s instructors describe him as a hardworking, dependable, and determined student who consistently approaches challenges with maturity and focus. In his letter of recommendation, his electrical instructor, Mr. Merritt, wrote: “Craig consistently demonstrates responsibility, perseverance, and a strong sense of integrity. He takes pride in his work and understands the value of effort, accountability, and self improvement.”

Throughout his time at North Tech, Craig has demonstrated the type of work ethic and character that will serve him well in the skilled trades industry. His commitment to growth, willingness to learn, and positive attitude have helped position him for success as he begins this next chapter. We are proud to support Craig as part of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship class and look forward to seeing all he accomplishes in the electrical field.

Today’s 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship spotlight is Savannah Ewing. Savannah is a senior at Pattonville High School whose passion for engineering, curiosity for learning, and commitment to creating change have already set her apart as an emerging leader in STEM. She has earned an impressive 3.91 GPA, scored a 30 on the ACT, and this fall will attend the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering.

Savannah’s interest in engineering began in the classroom through her love of physics and the challenge of understanding how systems work together. In her scholarship essay, she reflected on how those experiences led her toward Architectural and Civil Engineering and inspired her desire to create spaces that are not only functional, but equitable and accessible for all people. She wrote, “My foundation for change means being the representation I once looked for. I recognized from a very young age that seeing women, especially women of color, in the field of engineering was rare.”

Savannah has already built an impressive resume of leadership and academic experiences. Through Black Girls Do STEM, she explored multiple STEM career pathways and participated in advanced research opportunities, including contributing to a published research project connected to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She also presented at the National Public Health Conference in Atlanta and participated in Boeing’s Girls Do STEM aerospace engineering program.

Savannah’s story reflects the power of representation, opportunity, and perseverance. We are incredibly proud to support her as part of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship class and cannot wait to see the impact she will make in the engineering field and beyond.

Today’s 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship spotlight is Trades recipient, Morgan Wilbret. Morgan is a dual enrolled senior at Hazelwood Central High School and North Tech, where he is part of the HVAC program. Over the past two years, Morgan has been an active participant in the CCDI program and has consistently taken advantage of opportunities to grow through our Saturday Academies and industry engagement experiences.

Morgan’s passion for working with his hands and solving problems led him to explore several skilled trades before discovering his future in HVAC. In his scholarship essay, he shared how his experiences at North Tech helped shape his direction and confidence for the future: “Everything is hard before it is easy. North Tech taught me that hard work, hands-on learning, and determination can turn goals into reality.”

Morgan’s instructors and mentors describe him as a student who leads by example and brings people together. His HVAC instructor, Matt Adams, wrote in a letter of recommendation: “Morgan has demonstrated a level of dedication that is rare. He is a student who approaches every lesson with an eagerness to learn. Beyond his technical aptitude, Morgan is a natural leader and a team player. He has a unique ability to bring his classmates together.”

This fall, Morgan plans to continue his technical training at American Trade School, where he will pursue advanced HVAC certifications and continue building toward a successful career in the skilled trades industry. We are excited to support Morgan as part of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship class and cannot wait to see where his drive and work ethic take him next.

Today’s 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship spotlight is Christi Dyer. Christi is a dual enrolled student at Pattonville High School and North Tech, where she is part of the electrical program. She has excelled both academically and technically throughout high school, earning an impressive 4.2 GPA and scoring a 30 on the ACT.

As the oldest of her siblings, Christi leads by example in every area of her life. She is deeply involved in her church community, dedicates countless hours to volunteer work, and remains active in dance and theater. Over the past two years, Christi has also been an engaged member of the CCDI program, regularly participating in Saturday Academies and taking advantage of every opportunity to grow professionally and personally.

Her hard work and leadership were recently recognized when she earned the distinction of “Tops of Tech,” the highest honor awarded to a North Tech student by her electrical instructor, Mr. Merritt. In his letter of recommendation, he wrote: “Christi is a natural leader, a critical thinker and a student who takes pride in producing high-quality work. Her ability to analyze problems and apply technical knowledge sets her apart from her peers.”

Christi plans to attend Missouri S&T, where she will pursue a degree in Architectural Engineering. Before beginning college, she will spend a year serving her church through missionary work, an experience that reflects her commitment to faith, service, and leadership. We are excited to see the experiences and perspective Christi will gain during this next chapter and know she has an incredibly bright future ahead in the construction industry.

Please join us in congratulating Christi on her outstanding accomplishments. We are incredibly proud of you, Christi!

Week two of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship announcement series continues with a spotlight on Ron Luttrell. Ron is a senior at Normandy High School whose hard work, leadership, and commitment to education have positioned him for a bright future in engineering.

Throughout high school, Ron has consistently challenged himself academically and taken advantage of opportunities to prepare for college and his future career. He participated in the UMSL Bridge Program, BrightPath, and was dual enrolled at St. Louis Community College, where he earned college credits while still in high school.

This fall, Ron will attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering. What stands out most about Ron is not only his academic drive, but his desire to lead by example for those around him, especially his younger brother. In his scholarship essay, Ron wrote:

“And most importantly to me, my goal is to serve as a powerful role model for my 13 year old little brother. In a world that could easily breed pessimism, I have chose to lead by example, demonstrating that dedication, hard work, and a commitment to education can create opportunity.”

Ron’s determination, maturity, and focus on creating opportunities for himself and his family make him an outstanding representative of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship class. Please join us in congratulating Ron on his accomplishments and wishing him success as he begins this exciting next chapter at SIUE.

Happy Friday! As we wrap up week one of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship announcement series, we are proud to spotlight Trades scholar, Amaya Hulbert. Amaya is a dual enrolled student at Pattonville High School and North Tech, where she is completing the welding program. This fall, she will continue her technical training at St. Louis Community College as she pursues their nine-month welding program.

Amaya’s story is one of perseverance, resilience, and determination. She is currently the only female student in North Tech’s welding program, a challenge she has embraced with confidence and pride. In her scholarship essay, Amaya reflected on the importance of proving that women belong in the trades and demonstrating that skill, hard work, and determination have no gender.

Her journey has not been easy. During her freshman year, Amaya suffered a serious basketball injury that resulted in two surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, and months away from school. The experience tested her physically, mentally, and academically. Instead of giving up, she used that setback as motivation to push forward and redefine her future.

Amaya credits North Tech and her welding instructor with helping her rediscover her confidence and passion. Since entering the program, she has thrived in a hands-on learning environment, earned certifications including OSHA 10 and forklift training, competed in SkillsUSA, and participated in North Tech’s professional welding program. She also gained valuable industry experience last summer through a manufacturing internship with Leonardo DRS and will return again this summer.

Beyond the classroom, Amaya is deeply involved in her community. She volunteers through Fee Fee Baptist Church, helps coach youth basketball camps, and spends time mentoring younger students. She hopes to one day start her own business and continue creating opportunities for others.

Amaya wrote in her essay, “Technical school has reinstilled hope in my educational future and has given me a strong sense of direction.” We are incredibly proud to support Amaya as part of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship class and cannot wait to see all that she accomplishes in the skilled trades industry!