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19th Annual Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Winners Selected

April 11, 2018
 

Portland, OR – The Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund and Advanced American Construction, Inc. of Portland have selected 10 students to receive $46,000 in scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year. To date, the Fund has awarded 227 scholarships totaling $676,000. From a field of 33 applicants, the Selection Committee chose those that best demonstrated academic and extra-curricular excellence in the pursuit of careers in construction and construction-related fields. The following scholarship awardees will be honored at the 19th Annual Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Awards Dinner and Silent Auction to be held Friday, April 27th, 2018, at the Sentinel Hotel, Governor's Ballroom, in Portland, Oregon:


Christopher Roach of Damascus, Oregon is a junior at Oregon State University, pursuing a degree in Construction Management and Engineering. He is involved in a Christian non-profit fraternity house, the Clackamas Community STEM Club, the American Society of Professional Estimators, and the Associated General Contractors of America Student Chapter. During his free time, he enjoys welding, auto body work, scuba diving, hiking, and skiing. Christopher says “With a degree from Oregon State University, my goal is to be working with industry-leading organizations through hands-on experience and increasing my responsibility at an innovative company. I strive to be a good son, student, and worker, and it is my dream to be a Construction Engineer like my dad.”
        Scholarship Award: $7,000
        Sponsored by: Advanced American Construction, Inc.


Ben Hatfield of Beaverton, Oregon is a junior at Oregon State University, pursuing a degree in Construction Engineering Management. He is an active member of the Association of General Contractors OSU Student Chapter, and the OSU Crop Science Club, and his many extra-curricular hobbies include fishing, hunting, metal fabrication, water sports, and restoring houses. Ben says “Construction is more than just a job to me, it’s my passion. Getting a degree in Construction Engineering Management at Oregon State University has always been a dream that I’ve held in high regard. With the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship, I know that I will be able to graduate and start the next chapter of my life in the Heavy Civil Industry in Oregon.”
        Scholarship Award: $7,000
        Sponsored by: NessCampbell Crane & Rigging


Kacy Childress of Gresham, Oregon is a first-year student with junior standing at Oregon State University, pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering, and a two-time Schweiger Memorial Scholarship recipient. She was valedictorian of her graduating class in 2017 and is involved in numerous extra-curricular activities such the OSU Engineering Leadership Academy, the Society of Women Engineers OSU Student Chapter, and the all-female A Capella group Divine. Her hobbies include running, hiking, soccer, and slalom water skiing. Kacy says “The possibility of pursuing a career in Chemical Engineering is exciting because it offers the opportunity to contribute to finding sustainable solutions to some of the world’s most significant problems, like providing access to clean water and improving quality, through applications of math and science.”
        Scholarship Award: $4,000


Farren Linne of Ketchikan, Alaska is a high school senior at Ketchikan High School, with the intention of pursuing a Civil Engineering degree from Whitworth University. She is a 4.0 student, received the Air Force Recruiting Service, Mathematics, and Science Award, and is active in the National Honor Society, Youth Advisory Committee of the Tongass National Forest, Rotary Interact, High School Pep Club, and is the Kayhi Wrestling Manager. Farren is also enrolled in AP biology, Calculus, and Economics classes. Her hobbies include soccer, cross country, and soccer. Farren says “Spending years of my time forming a foundation that has shaped me into the person I am today has been a laborious yet worthy journey. Once I receive my bachelor’s in civil engineering, I plan to work my way into possibly creating my own company. Working my up to this will be a long and hard journey, but I plan to do all that I can to make sure I get there.”
        Scholarship Award: $4,000


Nick Hossley of North Bend, Oregon is senior at Oregon State University, pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Business and Entrepreneurship, and a four-time Schweiger Memorial Scholarship recipient. He is the President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student club and has interned with the Federal Highway Administration in the Western Federal Lands Division. His hobbies include skiing, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, and photography. Nick says “The Schweiger Memorial Scholarship would help me obtain the next step in my dream; to be an engineer in the construction industry and help me give back by providing me the opportunity to build the infrastructure of the future that will serve our community, state, and country.”
        Scholarship Award: $4,000


Louis Nash of Tampa, Florida is a senior at the University of South Florida, pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering, and a three-time Schweiger Memorial Scholarship recipient. He is active in the University of South Florida Rugby Club, the US Marine Corps Platoon Leaders, the USF Stampede of Service Volunteering, and interns with the Southwest Florida Water Management District. He enjoys playing rugby, kayaking, working out and was inspired to pursue a Civil Engineering degree by his father as well as Evan Clemson of Advanced American Construction. Louis says “Respect, hard work, honesty, and pursuit of excellence are all things that I have been taught from a young age and values that I would love to observe and operate with during my career in the construction industry. The Schweiger Memorial Scholarship will financially assist me through college and allow me the opportunity to become a part of a company that operates with integrity and strives to help their community.”
        Scholarship Award: $4,000


Alex Pihl of Ketchikan, Alaska is a senior at Gonzaga University, pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Mathematics and a focus on Structural Engineering. He is a research assistant for Dr. Joshua Schultz, PE, a physics lab teaching assistant, the Vice President of the American Society of Civil Engineers Gonzaga University Chapter, was awarded the Ignatian Leaders and Trustees Scholarship, and has made both the Dean’s and President’s List from 2015-17. He enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking and boating, and is passionate about his home state of Alaska. Alex says “This scholarship would both help me develop as a student, leader, and citizen. Being fortunate enough to attend college, I am determined to make the most of the situation that I have been so blessed to receive.”
        Scholarship Award: $4,000


Alexandrea Miller of Yucaipa, California is a junior at Oregon State University, pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Humanitarian Engineering. She was in the top 5% of her high school graduating class and was awarded the Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation Scholarship. Alexandrea, or Addie, is active in Engineers Without Borders, the Oregon State Women’s Rugby team, is employed as an artist illustrating children’s books, and an intern for Skanska. She is passionate about sports, art, and enjoys all types of dance. Currently, Addie is working with Engineers Without Borders to implement water distribution systems to the communities in Los Potrerillos, Nicaragua. Addie says “Being able to create something by using my imagination as a tool always brought me so much joy! By combining that and achieving the overarching goal of helping people, I was driven to Civil Engineering.”
        Scholarship Award: $4,000


Louis Tigh of Atlanta, Georgia is a Marine Corps veteran and junior at the University of Washington – Seattle, pursuing a degree in Construction Management. During his time in the armed forces he was active in the Optimist Club of Carlsbad, CA, the team captain of an ASC Reno Heavy Civil Competition Team, and has received the National Defense Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Louis says “Pursuing a career in construction is what I am truly passionate about and being lucky enough to receive this scholarship will allow me to do so. I feel in that capacity, I can develop my ability to lead people to accomplish large goals and I can focus on creating the structures that will come to define our generation.” 
        Scholarship Award: $4,000
        2018 recipient of the Veteran Scholarship sponsored by the Ashback Family


Niklas Tostar of West Linn, Oregon is a junior at Oregon State University pursuing a degree in Construction Engineering Management. He placed in the ASC Project Management Open Student Competition in 2018, was awarded the OSU scholarship at the West Linn – Wilsonville International Science and Engineering Fair and has been the AGC Student Chapter at Oregon and AGC Oregon-Columbia Sophomore Class Representative, Construction Leadership Council Student Leadership Position, and Vice President. Niklas says “When I graduate from Oregon State University with a degree in Construction Engineering Management, I plan on entering the workforce as a Project Engineer. To me, it’s important that the company I work for does honest, respectable work, and I want to go home every day proud of what I have been working on.”
        Scholarship Award: $4,000
        Sponsored by: Vigor
 

Forrest Schweiger, son of Advanced American Diving Service co-founder Konrad Schweiger, lost his life in a construction accident in 1999 at the age of 26. To honor and commemorate Forrest, Advanced American Construction formed the Forrest L. Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund. Then on April 11, 2002, Konrad Schweiger passed away unexpectedly. To honor both Forrest and Konrad, the fund’s name was changed to the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund. 

The Fund provides annual scholarships to applicants looking to pursue careers in construction and construction-related fields. A selection committee reviews applicants and awards recipients at the annual Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Awards Banquet each spring. 

The success and continuation of the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund is made possible with the generous financial contributions received from the customers, vendors, employees, and friends of Advanced American Construction, Inc., with a special thank you to our sponsors: 

AGC - Oregon Columbia Chapter, Ashback Family, Hamilton Construction Company, Lampson International, NessCampbell Crane & Rigging, Tarlow, Naito &Summers, LLP, and Vigor 

This year’s selection committee for the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund recipients included: Cindy Schweiger; Hal Pritchett, Professor Emeritus, Oregon State University; Jan and Greg Strombeck, Retired, Department of Construction Engineering Management, Oregon State University; Susan Clark, CNA Surety; Peter Lampson, Lampson International; Jim Brunkhorst, Pacific Foundation, Inc.; Mike Teeter, NessCampbell Crane & Rigging; Corey Yraguen, Vigor; John Weisner, Coral Construction Company; Scott Williams and Con O'Connor, Hamilton Construction Company; Todd Duwe, Andersen Construction; Brian Gray, Knife River; Dee Burch, Holly & Mike Johns, Kyle & China Izatt, Tim Nelson, David Pierce, Rich & Paige Spratt, Advanced American Construction, Inc. 

Specializing in heavy civil/marine and industrial construction since 1983, Advanced American Construction, Inc. is a recognized leader in marine construction throughout the western United States. For pictures and additional information on the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund, visit advanced-american.com. For award dinner tickets and donations, please contact Advanced American Construction, Inc. at (503) 445-9000.