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Scholarships Help Boost Twins’ Home Building Careers
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Endowment scholarships and student chapter activities have helped boost the home building careers of twins Adam and Ben Copenhaver. | Scholarships through the National Housing Endowment ― the philanthropic arm of NAHB ― are helping boost the home
 building careers of twins Adam and Ben Copenhaver, who are active in their NAHB student chapters and are each pursuing residential construction management degrees.
Adam, a senior at Pennsylvania State University, was recently awarded the National Housing Endowment/J. Roger Glunt Undergraduate Travel Award so he could attend the 2007 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. in February. He also is a recipient of the Centex Homes/National Housing Endowment “Build Your Future” Scholarship that provides tuition assistance to undergraduate students pursuing careers in home building.
Ben, a senior at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, also is a recipient of the “Build Your Future” Scholarship. He received his scholarship for 2006-2007 school year.
“For as far back as I can remember I have always been fascinated by the construction industry,” said Ben. “I would just sit and watch homes and buildings being built and never get bored. There is something about the environment and the creativity involved in building stunning structures that one can take pride in.”
“I am very thankful to NAHB, the National Housing Endowment and Centex Homes for the support and faith they have put in me and my career, and the opportunities that they provide to educate people like me about this industry,” he added.
Ben has served as vice president of his NAHB Student Chapter and team captain for the NAHB Student Competition for two consecutive years. He has interned with Centex Homes in management and with Bob Rineer Builders and Coldwell, Heckles and Egan, Inc. as a carpenter.
He also is active in his community, working as a volunteer with the United Way and Habitat for Humanity.
His brother Adam has worked with Centex Homes in the land development department and has had a successful internship that earned him accolades, a “Best Intern” award and company support.
This past summer Adam worked for Clark Realty Builders in the Washington, D.C. area as a production superintendent on a 378-unit apartment complex. He also has worked for the company on a feasibility proposal for a single-family home company Clark Realty Builders is considering creating.
“The NAHB Student Chapter at Penn State has done a tremendous job in helping me to be where I am today,” said Adam. “I have been able to use the experience I have gained in leadership positions within the club, including my internships, competitions and classes.
“In fact, starting and competing in the residential building competition this past year has been the most fulfilling experience that I will be taking from this university when I leave,” Adam noted.
Both brothers attribute learning about the industry and cementing their desires to work in the industry to their student chapters and to attending IBS.
“The Copenhaver brothers are the types of students we need to attract as future leaders of the housing industry,” said Gary Garczynski, endowment chairman and 2002 NAHB president. “As the endowment continues its efforts to increase the number of students pursing careers in residential construction management, we must increase the reach and highlight the importance of our student chapters and continue to make scholarship dollars available.”
Enter Awards Programs for Community Contributions
The National Housing Endowment, the philanthropic arm of NAHB, is seeking entries for two awards recognizing the charitable contributions and altruistic differences building professionals make in their communities.
Entries for both awards are due Friday, Dec. 1.
Each year, NAHB honors the generosity of housing professionals through the following awards programs:
The endowment’s Home Builders Care Project of the Year Award, now in its sixth year, recognizes outstanding community service projects developed and implemented by local or state home builders associations (HBAs) or councils affiliated with NAHB.
Winners will receive a $5,000 donation directed to the charity of their choice and will be recognized at the International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando, Fla. in February.
To read more about the previous Project of the Year award winners, click here.
The endowment’s Builder Achievement Award for Outstanding Community Service showcases the exceptional endeavors of builders, developers and remodelers. Now in its second year, eight winners will be honored at IBS.
Winners will receive a donation to be directed to their charity of choice: $10,000 for Gold winners; $5,000 for Silver; $2,500 for Bronze; and $1,000 each to the honorable mentions.
To read about the 2005 winners, click here.
For more information, e-mail Niki Clark at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8061.
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