As part of their online registration to the 2012 NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando,  attendees now have an easy way to make a $5 donation towards  scholarships that will enable NAHB Student Chapter members to offset some or all of their travel and attendance expenses at IBS.

NAHB and the National Housing Endowment, which provides the scholarships, have provided a “Help a Student Attend IBS” check-off box as part of the online registration that attendees can click if they wish to make a $5 donation.

This is the fifth year the endowment — and the NAHB Student Chapters in conjunction with the Home Builders Institute (HBI), the workforce development arm of NAHB — have awarded scholarships to students traveling to the Builders’ Show. Student chapters can receive grants for up to $2,000 and home builders associations can receive matching grants for up to $2,000 to help send students to IBS.

The scholarship program has been instrumental in helping student chapter members learn outside the classroom and prepare for careers in the home building industry. Since its inception, the program has awarded scholarships to more than 2,500 students attending IBS and competing in the Residential Construction Management Competition.

The IBS scholarship program also helps give young NAHB members the tools to enter into the federation as graduates and to become future industry leaders. But, students and faculty are challenged every year to raise travel money to attend the events and participate in activities and competition at IBS.

“IBS is an incredible learning experience for students interested in the home building industry,” said Gregory Gritter, a Student Chapter member at Louisiana State University who attended IBS last year. “I would definitely recommend that students new to the show attend as much as possible to ensure maximum exposure to everything IBS has to offer. From the show floor to the competitions to the ceremonies, it’s an unforgettable experience.”

“We learned that the housing industry is still alive and well and that there are so many dedicated people willing to help us,” added Jodi Crabree, president of the Student Chapter at the University of Florida. “Everybody at IBS seemed to be working to help each other.” 

Bob Mitchell, endowment chairman and 2000 NAHB president of NAHB, said that the new check-off box is an easy and inexpensive way for industry professionals to “pull together and keep investing in our future by helping give students the opportunity to learn about careers in residential construction."

“When you register for this year’s IBS, join your fellow attendees in supporting the next generation of builders and NAHB members by donating $5 to ‘Help a Student Attend IBS,’” Mitchell said.