FORT WAYNE, IN The Workforce Development & Education Committee recently had the fun but challenging task of selecting recipients of the two $1,500 Building Contractors Association (BCA) Presidential Merit Scholarships. BCA had seven well-qualified applicants seeking financial support for their college educations in construction-related degree programs this fall.

Relation to or employment with a BCA member is a steadfast requirement for consideration, but other criteria is more general which allows the committee some latitude in making these awards. It's not all about GPAs or having been class president in high school, and financial need is not an application question. The committee looks at the overall package, the special merits possessed by each of the applicants that, from the committee's perspective, make them stand-out from the others. After due deliberations, two students rose to the top of the field:  Dylan Markley and Chase Stahl.

Markley received his Associate degree in building construction management from Ivy Tech Community College in May. He will be transferring to Indiana State University this fall to obtain his Bachelor's degree in construction, doing on-line studies so he may continue gaining field experience. Markley worked part-time one year for Hagerman as an intern in their project management department while doing his studies at Ivy Tech and maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. In May he accepted a full-time position with Hagerman as Project Engineer. His current career goal is to grow and develop as a leader at Hagerman, and he is excited for the potential his employer has for him and his long-term career. BCA congratulates Markley for the great strides he has already made in his construction career and looks forward to watching his continued growth in the local general contracting profession.

Stahl is a 2016 graduate of Adams Central High School where he was an honor student and active in sports. He is the son of Karen Stahl, an employee of member Moake Park Group. He has been accepted into Purdue University and plans to start working towards a degree in mechanical engineering this fall. He hopes to return to Fort Wayne after graduation to pursue his professional career. Stahl stated, "Because of all the growth, vision and long term goals for the future of Fort Wayne, highly skilled engineers are going to be in demand, and I intend on being a part of engineering the future of Fort Wayne downtown and the riverfront development." BCA applauds Stahl on his strong vision for his future and wishes him great success at Purdue.