Joseph Lipovits Memorial Homebuilders Scholarship

I am writing to you for consideration of the Joseph Lipovits Memorial Homebuilders Scholarship. I would like to share with you why I have chosen a career in construction and what a home means to me. I would like to share with you how I came to my decision about my career choice as I watched adversity and have faced adversity myself. Although construction management is not a popular career, I feel a strong emotional bond to the field. I think that emotional connection stems from the time I've spent helping my father with his construction business, seeing the ups and downs, and watching him navigate the hardships of both physical labor and running a business. It was during these times that I saw how effective teamwork was, but also how important it is to have a designated leader who can be looked to for support and clarity, if this role isn't present it leads to conflicts and mistakes that can severely impact the speed and quality of a job site. Growing up seeing this I realized that I wanted to be the leader, the person people could trust to make a smart, informed decision for them when they couldn't do it themselves. It has been through these revelations that I landed on a desire to pursue a degree in construction management and be the best I can be and give back to my community for years to come. Watching my father struggle with his construction business since COVID and seeing first-hand the ups and downs, I have a greater desire to learn more about this business and help continue his business in the future making it successful. Learning a trade will come with challenges but having the emotional bond to this career will help me through those challenges in order to be successful. Picking up a small business that is already struggling will come with some financial hardship and barriers to growth. As I plan to leave for school in the Fall and move away from my home the meaning of what a home means to me sinks in even deeper. I have lived in two homes in my life so far and each home comes with memories. The first home was an old home that came with so many historical memories and was in a rural setting that allowed me to experience the country and shaped my passions such as hunting, fishing, and trap shooting. I watched my dad and mom remodel the home to enhance its beauty and the challenges that come with older homes but also the beauty. My current home is newer but has the space to fit my family and is in a community setting which allows me to experience community relationships, support, and growth. Each home has led to different experiences but both are meaningful. Receiving this scholarship will alleviate some of the financial burdens I will have to get my education and allow me to focus on running the business, take over as the leader of operations, and grow the business to be successful. Thank you for your consideration. Tanner Price