CMAA NC creates scholarship for construction management
Dr. Harry Ploehn, left, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at East Carolina University, accepts a check for $25,000 from Kellie Ford, president of the North Carolina chapter of the Construction Management Association of America, for an endowed scholarship during the CMAA NC annual fundraising golf tournament July 15 at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary. (Photo by Scott Snead)
The North Carolina chapter of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA NC) presented $25,000 to Dr. Harry Ploehn, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology, for an endowed scholarship for students in construction management at East Carolina University.
The presentation took place at CMAA NC’s annual fundraising golf tournament at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary. The scholarship is an extended commitment for CMAA NC, which has donated money annually for a general scholarship to ECU for close to a decade.
Kellie Ford, president of the CMAA NC Board of Directors, said the endowed scholarship accomplishes two goals for the organization.
“The first goal is that we can have our scholarship monies be set aside for construction management students only, which aligns with our organization’s purpose,” Ford said. “The second goal of the endowment is that our scholarship is now funded in perpetuity. This ensures that our organization can help students achieve their goals of entering into the construction management market place.”
Ford said CMAA NC members fully recognize the impact of the scholarship.
“It means a great deal to the membership of CMAA NC knowing that we are assisting a construction management student pursue their higher education dream,” said Ford, a senior business developer for S&ME, Inc., in Raleigh “Whether it be reducing the financial burden of the rising cost of college education or allowing students more time to focus on studies rather than part-time work, we are thrilled to be one piece of the puzzle in creating that strong foundation for an ECU construction management student.”
Ford said the organization has strong ties to ECU and is proud to continue that relationship with an endowed scholarship.
“We have had several ECU students over the past few years attend our symposium,” Ford said. “We have many, many ECU alumni who work in the construction management field here in North Carolina, serve on our board and are proud to see this endowment for ECU.”
Dr. Harry Ploehn, left, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at East Carolina University, speaks with Al Rager, past president of the North Carolina chapter of the Construction Management Association of America, at the chapter’s fundraising golf tournament. (Photo by Scott Snead)
Ploehn said he appreciated the support of CMAA NC.
“I’m very grateful to the CMAA for their generous support of an endowed scholarship for construction management students,” Ploehn said. “This endowment demonstrates the long-term commitment of the CMAA and its members to supporting student success and academic excellence in our construction management program. We have many excellent students who need financial help, and the opportunity to draw even more students into the construction industry. This scholarship will certainly help us achieve these goals.”
CMAA NC conducts two major fundraising events each year — its golf tournament as well as an educational symposium open to all industry professionals and students.
Annually, CMAA NC provides individual scholarships to students in pursuit of careers in the construction industry in addition to local college and university endowments designed to support students for decades to come.
The goal of CMAA NC is to support the advancement of the construction industry in the state while promoting the use of qualified construction managers on capital projects and programs. CMAA NC has about 250 members, including contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, design professionals, consultants and owners, among others.
More information on the organization is available on its website at https://cmaanc.starchapter.com/index.php.
— By Ken Buday, University Communications