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Endowment Scholar Trades in Swatches for Home Building
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Collette Dawson, endowment scholar at Brigham Young University. | Collette Uriarte Dawson, a senior at Brigham Young University majoring in construction management, originally wanted to pursue a career in interior design. But she changed her mind in high school shortly after working on the interior design of a house her construction class was building. She traded in her swatches and room layouts for a hammer and construction know-how.
Dawson, a recipient of the Lee S. Evans/National Housing Endowment Scholarship, is one of a growing number of young women entering the home building industry.
“I have always wanted to learn the skills I am learning in my program and to make a good impact on the home building industry as a whole,” Dawson said. “Eventually I plan to own my own custom or turnkey residential home building business with my husband Craig, who is also a construction management student at BYU.”
Dawson maintains a 3.3 grade point average overall (4.0 in her major) and has been very active in the university’s NAHB student chapter serving as president, service leader and historian. She also participates in the NAHB Student Chapter Competition and in Habitat for Humanity.
“I have helped build three houses, mostly doing labor. I have also finished a few basements and done some remodeling work,” Dawson said. “I excel in interior finishes and scheduling. Upon graduation I plan to seek a position with a good residential home builder as a scheduler, warranty specialist or superintendent.”
Dawson credits the National Housing Endowment, the philanthropic arm of NAHB, with advancing her education in residential construction.
“I am deeply grateful to the National Housing Endowment and Lee Evans. Without the Lee S. Evans Scholarship, I would have not been able to continue with my education,” Dawson explained. “With this scholarship I will have a chance at making a difference in this world by offering people a piece of the American Dream ― owning a home.”
 The endowment administers 12 scholarship programs and awards more than $300,000 each year to students pursuing careers in residential construction and related fields.
For more information, visit the endowment Web site at www.nationalhousingendowment.org.
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