The trade I am looking to pursue or make a career out of is plumbing, specifically designing plumbing systems in commercial spaces. Hopefully one day it will lead to being able to open an engineer firm that works directly with local construction businesses. Getting scholarships will allow me to take my schooling as far as I can, without getting outside help, completing a degree isn’t the most attainable thing to do. As I will have to take time away from my current job, taking a pay cut. My father, Robbie Stewart, came west from Minnesota to go to school, where he became a journeyman and helped support his mother and siblings. Moving back to Minnesota, he started his own company, which was nicely successful. In 2008 during the recession, we lost almost everything and had to move back west. My dad has been a massive inspiration for me as I watched him begin a new and work his way up to where he is now. He showed me how the construction industry has fantastic opportunities for those willing to work for it. He is currently designing plumbing systems for commercial purposes at Stewart Mechanical and is a professor at CITC teaching second-year plumbing apprentices. Throughout high school I worked with old folk and children, but after a car accident in 2021 I realized that a career in going that direction would not be sustainable for me. But I still wanted to find a way to somehow be a part of it, after learning more about the plumbing trade, I discovered how essential plumbing is to the health and safety of the entire public, in homes and in public. This, along with seeing my dads hard work and dedication throughout the years, my decision was solidified and I started my career in the plumbing trade. With the help of my dad, I began my career in the construction industry in 2021 at Stewart Mechanical as a shop assistant. I got into fabrication soon after, prefabbing plumbing and HVAC jobs. In the fall of 2022, I began the Plumbing Apprenticeship program at CITC and am on my way to graduating in 2026. While I primarily work in the shop, I’ve been working on getting field experience where I can. The last time I was in the field was at the beginning of March 2023, working on installing HVAC for a low-income housing project. I would love to go as far as possible with plumbing and HVAC, even further than just installing, but being the one to design the systems used in all types of buildings.Getting into mechanical engineering will allow me to work with AutoCAD and BIM, designing systems for commercial projects and possibly working to improve existing systems. After I get the school and working experience needed, I plan to work myself and open an engineering firm, working with local businesses to create a thriving environment for everyone.

Mental health is very important but easy to neglect. It affects your entire life, the choices you make, your outlook on the future and the past, along with so many other aspects. With bad mental health, life can become unbearable and scary, hence the importance in maintaining it. When life starts to become unbearable, the future begins to seem like an unattainable goal that you will never reach. It starts to feel empty and not worth living. With bad mental health, you can feel numb and want to find something to escape the numbness, this can lead to hurting oneself in more and more painful or dangerous way. This is why it’s so important not to neglect it, if someone falls into this, it is a hard place to come back from and can lead to the end of someone’s precious life. In the summer of 2021, I was in a car accident that left the left half of my face scarred and damaged hearing in that ear. Thankfully I got one of the best outcomes I could have in the accident, as I got hit right in the drivers door by a big truck going way over the speed limit. I suffered not internal injuries, but it left me with a changed face and a horrible fear of cars/driving. I was prescribed medication to help with pain and with getting over the accident, but it had a detrimental effect on my mental health. I didn’t want to see anyone or do anything and just laid in bed for the first couple weeks. Things only got worse after that with people from the community posted about the accident and said horrible things about me. I quit my job and just stayed home, locked in my room. I didn’t look for car and didn’t have any plan to, as every time I got in a car I had panic attacks that left me shaking. I started a new job with more physical activity and readjusted to myself to cars. That next February I was in another accident, after someone decided to not stop at a stop sign, throwing my car into a ditch that was deeper than I was tall. This threw everything I had been working on all the way to the beginning. My mental health spiraled and I fell into a pretty deep depression. After a while of this I followed the advice of my mom and started therapy where I learned how to take control and find ways to cope with the things that happened. I was given a book to understand how to deal with the traumatic car accident as well as advice on how to keep my mental health in a good place. This included taking time out of a busy schedule to make time for myself. To pamper myself, either by going out with friends/family, getting a massage or mani pedi. Something done simple for enjoyment, not errands or work related, just for the fun of it. Taking time out of my day, mainly in the evenings to evaluate where I’m at has also been very useful in the maintenance of my mental health. Checking in and dealing with things that need to be dealt with. Exercise is also a very important part of mental health upkeep, taking care of your body has a huge impact on a persons mental health.

The trade I am looking to pursue or make a career out of is plumbing, specifically designing plumbing systems in commercial spaces. Hopefully one day it will lead to being able to open an engineer firm that works directly with local construction businesses. Getting scholarships will allow me to take my schooling as far as I can, without getting outside help, completing a degree isn’t the most attainable thing to do. As I will have to take time away from my current job, taking a pay cut. My father, Robbie Stewart, came west from Minnesota to go to school, where he became a journeyman and helped support his mother and siblings. Moving back to Minnesota, he started his own company, which was nicely successful. In 2008 during the recession, we lost almost everything and had to move back west. My dad has been a massive inspiration for me as I watched him begin a new and work his way up to where he is now. He showed me how the construction industry has fantastic opportunities for those willing to work for it. He is currently designing plumbing systems for commercial purposes at Stewart Mechanical and is a professor at CITC teaching second-year plumbing apprentices. Throughout high school I worked with old folk and children, but after a car accident in 2021 I realized that a career in going that direction would not be sustainable for me. But I still wanted to find a way to somehow be a part of it, after learning more about the plumbing trade, I discovered how essential plumbing is to the health and safety of the entire public, in homes and in public. This, along with seeing my dads hard work and dedication throughout the years, my decision was solidified and I started my career in the plumbing trade. With the help of my dad, I began my career in the construction industry in 2021 at Stewart Mechanical as a shop assistant. I got into fabrication soon after, prefabbing plumbing and HVAC jobs. In the fall of 2022, I began the Plumbing Apprenticeship program at CITC and am on my way to graduating in 2026. While I primarily work in the shop, I’ve been working on getting field experience where I can. The last time I was in the field was at the beginning of March 2023, working on installing HVAC for a low-income housing project. I would love to go as far as possible with plumbing and HVAC, even further than just installing, but being the one to design the systems used in all types of buildings.Getting into mechanical engineering will allow me to work with AutoCAD and BIM, designing systems for commercial projects and possibly working to improve existing systems. After I get the school and working experience needed, I plan to work myself and open an engineering firm, working with local businesses to create a thriving environment for everyone.

Aspirations for the Future Ava Stewart The trade I am looking to pursue or make a career out of is plumbing, specifically designing plumbing systems in commercial spaces. Hopefully one day it will lead to being able to open an engineer firm that works directly with local construction businesses. My father, Robbie Stewart, came west from Minnesota to go to school, where he became a journeyman and helped support his mother and siblings. Moving back to Minnesota, he started his own company, which was nicely successful. In 2008 during the recession, we lost almost everything and had to move back west. My dad has been a massive inspiration for me as I watched him begin a new and work his way up to where he is now. He showed me how the construction industry has fantastic opportunities for those willing to work for it. He is currently designing plumbing systems for commercial purposes at Stewart Mechanical and is a professor at CITC teaching second-year plumbing apprentices. Throughout high school I worked with old folk and children, but after a car accident in 2021 I realized that a career in going that direction would not be sustainable for me. But I still wanted to find a way to somehow be a part of it, after learning more about the plumbing trade, I discovered how essential plumbing is to the health and safety of the entire public, in homes and in public. This, along with seeing my dads hard work and dedication throughout the years, my decision was solidified and I started my career in the plumbing trade. With the help of my dad, I began my career in the construction industry in 2021 at Stewart Mechanical as a shop assistant. I got into fabrication soon after, prefabbing plumbing and HVAC jobs. In the fall of 2022, I began the Plumbing Apprenticeship program at CITC and am on my way to graduating in 2026. While I primarily work in the shop, I’ve been working on getting field experience where I can. The last time I was in the field was at the beginning of March 2023, working on installing HVAC for a low-income housing project. I would love to go as far as possible with plumbing and HVAC, even further than just installing, but being the one to design the systems used in all types of buildings.Getting into mechanical engineering will allow me to work with AutoCAD and BIM, designing systems for commercial projects and possibly working to improve existing systems. After I get the school and working experience needed, I plan to work myself and open an engineering firm, working with local businesses to create a thriving environment for everyone.

The dream version of my future self is an engineer that is running a successful engineering firm with my brother, enriching the community and businesses around me.

Aspirations for the Future Ava Stewart The trade I am looking to pursue or make a career out of is plumbing, specifically designing plumbing systems in commercial spaces. Hopefully one day it will lead to being able to open an engineer firm that works directly with local construction businesses. My father, Robbie Stewart, came west from Minnesota to go to school, where he became a journeyman and helped support his mother and siblings. Moving back to Minnesota, he started his own company, which was nicely successful. In 2008 during the recession, we lost almost everything and had to move back west. My dad has been a massive inspiration for me as I watched him begin a new and work his way up to where he is now. He showed me how the construction industry has fantastic opportunities for those willing to work for it. He is currently designing plumbing systems for commercial purposes at Stewart Mechanical and is a professor at CITC teaching second-year plumbing apprentices. Throughout high school I worked with old folk and children, but after a car accident in 2021 I realized that a career in going that direction would not be sustainable for me. But I still wanted to find a way to somehow be a part of it, after learning more about the plumbing trade, I discovered how essential plumbing is to the health and safety of the entire public, in homes and in public. This, along with seeing my dads hard work and dedication throughout the years, my decision was solidified and I started my career in the plumbing trade. With the help of my dad, I began my career in the construction industry in 2021 at Stewart Mechanical as a shop assistant. I got into fabrication soon after, prefabbing plumbing and HVAC jobs. In the fall of 2022, I began the Plumbing Apprenticeship program at CITC and am on my way to graduating in 2026. While I primarily work in the shop, I’ve been working on getting field experience where I can. The last time I was in the field was at the beginning of March 2023, working on installing HVAC for a low-income housing project. I would love to go as far as possible with plumbing and HVAC, even further than just installing, but being the one to design the systems used in all types of buildings.Getting into mechanical engineering will allow me to work with AutoCAD and BIM, designing systems for commercial projects and possibly working to improve existing systems. After I get the school and working experience needed, I plan to work myself and open an engineering firm, working with local businesses to create a thriving environment for everyone.

I started my plumbing career right as I was finishing high school and have been pushing my way to get to the top of my field since. I’m currently enrolled in a plumbing apprenticeship, almost into my second year, but am looking to go even further than becoming a journeyman/woman. I have applied to college to major in mechanical engineering and hope to use it to open an engineering firm in the future. I did a few odd jobs in high school, nannying and a server at an old folks home, but after a bad car accident in 2021, leaving my face scarred and making it hard to even take care of myself, I realized that it wasn’t sustainable to be working in either of these fields. I knew I still wanted to create safe environments for people but just in a different way. I realized I would be able to do this if I took myself to where safety in homes and buildings begins. This is where I began my plumbing career. I started as a shop assistant to feel things out and decide if it was right for me, quickly shifting into fabrication. Which is the building of pipe segments for all parts of the building relating to plumbing, as well as toilets, sinks, and more. Within the next year I took over and took charge of making sure everything got done on schedule. Starting the plumbing apprenticeship to give my company access to more jobs in the future. I enjoy both the apprenticeship and the work I do. But I would also like to push further where I can, having both the apprenticeship and college under my belt will help secure my future into any one I want, as well as make me a better asset to my company. I never thought I would make it to college or even as far as I’ve already made it in this field. Plumbing is very much a male dominated industry that isn’t always the easiest to pave a path through, but I love the work I do and know that the work I put in is helping house families and keep them safe from deadly viruses/diseases. Because of this, I’m pushing forward and going into mechanical engineering with a background in plumbing, so that I can help shape the future of this field for the better, protecting more and creating more efficient methods. The plan for the future is to one day open an engineering firm in my town to help the construction businesses within grow and flourish. Having an engineering firm that is willing to work with you and that understands small businesses is essential for the growth and prosperity of all. It would be a great honor to be considered for this scholarship and I know I could do great things with the help.

I am very passionate about pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering because I want to see how far I can move my career forward. I’m currently a plumbing apprentice with Stewart Mechanical and work closely with the mechanical engineers in the company. They design the groundwork’s and rough in blueprints that get passed onto me, and from there it’s my job to build them and send them to the actual jobs. Where I’m at right now there isn’t much room to go up, and up is where I’d like to go. If possible opening an engineering firm that will enrich the construction businesses in my area. I live in a close knit community that supports my dreams and hopes with me that they will come true. Which makes me more determined to prove I can make all the way there. Since I was little I have watched my dad work his hardest to give me a good life. After graduating he moved out west in order to support his mother and siblings financially and get the schooling he needed to advance his career in plumbing. Him and my mother moved back to Minnesota where he opened a business and was successful with it, supporting two families on his income. During the recession of 2008, we lost everything and moved back west. From there I watched him pick himself back up and work his way to a foreman position and later become head of the design team. He showed me how the construction industry can give anyone who is willing a chance to rise to the top. I joined the plumbing field in 2021 and have been working on proving myself capable and worth attention. My dad instilled in me that hard work goes a long way and so here I am, pushing myself to become a first generation student and do what he was not able to because of obligation, and go to college to get a degree in mechanical engineering. I want to help my father achieve a dream he thought would never be possible, one of his kids following in his footsteps, proud to call him dad. He came from a rough family life and didn’t have a father figure to look up to. He has been a constant in my life and it’s is my dream to show him that he is the one that his kids can and will always look up to.