The Board of Directors of the Paul Gregory Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association (WCFHBA), awarded $7,000 in scholarship funds, according to a news release.

The funds are through the foundation’s Gift of Education Builder Scholarship and the Ted Hardeen Memorial Scholarship Fund to the Cape Fear Community College Foundation, officials said.  

The foundation awarded $2,000 through the Gift of Education Builder Scholarship Fund that provides $1,000 directly to one student in the construction management program and another $1,000 to one student who is enrolled in the construction/vocational programs.  

The foundation also awarded $5,000 through the Ted Hardeen Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is funded locally by Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage, to the CFCC Foundation to directly fund 26 scholarships for the highly anticipated CFCC Construction Institutes program that will begin this summer.   

“In 2018, our Board of Director’s objective was quite clear – as an organization we needed to take the lead role of attracting young people to the construction industry - an industry that is seeing more and more demands on a diminishing labor market and skilled trade positions,” said David Spetrino, president of WCFHBA.    

Cameron Moore, executive officer of the WCFHBA, said the board of directors and the membership of the WCFHBA has used an "array of strategies in order to change the perception of the construction industry by showcasing the abundant and lucrative career opportunities that are available locally to the area’s youth."

“Through the generous donations of our members and Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage, these two scholarships allow the Association to help advance our industry by exposing our local young adults to the construction industry,” Spetrino said. “This will in return create a significant amount of opportunity for both students and future employers, as students who successfully complete their course work will be able to immediately leverage those skills into our industry.”

CFCC President Jim Morton said the foundation and the support received from the WCFHBA will assist in the mission and equip students with the skills they need to pursue a career in the construction industry.