Home Builders announce scholarship winners

NORTH WILKESBORO — Three outstanding area young men have been selected to receive 2024 awards from the Joe Faw Scholarship Fund administered by the Wilkes-Yadkin Home Builders Association. Two of the three are second year students already attending Wilkes Community College.

The newest recipient is Eli Sloan, graduating Forbush High School, with plans toward a major in Construction Technology at Surry Community College. Eli is the son of Lee and Adrianna Sloan of Yadkinville. The Association’s Scholarship Committee reviewed glowing accolades from Eli’s pastor, Reverend Chris Hauser of South Oak Ridge Baptist Church, along with Eli’s guidance counselors and coaches. Hauser pointed out Eli’s hard work on the job, the court, and field…particularly his volunteer mission team work efforts with Impact Yadkin and throughout the United States. Will Bell, Forbush High School Athletic Director, detailed Eli’s status with the National Beta Club and National Honor Society. In order to maintain membership in both organizations, Bell said a student must complete community service hours and maintain an unweighted GPA of 3.8 or higher. Not only committed to academics, Bell noted Eli’s commitment to Athletics specifically early morning and late night practices with basketball and golf.

Eli finished 27th in the State in the NCHSAA 2A golf tournament in his junior year.

The HBA is continuing its support of last year’s scholarship earners both formerly of East Wilkes High School.

Gavin Dowell is the son of Clint and Danielle Dowell of Roaring River. Chance Mastin is the son of Chris and Summer Mastin in the Rock Creek community of North Wilkesboro. Each intends to continue studies in construction or a trades-related field of study at Wilkes Community College and beyond.

Gavin plans to finish his certifications in welding, then transfer to a four-year university with an aim toward a degree in Construction/Engineering. He’s earlier taken part for two years in welding projects with SkillsUSA.

Chance is pursuing a degree in Building Construction Technology with eventual plans for his own business. Both young men are members of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club, and have received accolades for other activities, including football, basketball, and baseball for Gavin, and golf for Chance.

For more than a year, there’s been an on-going HBA initiative of addressing the critical skilled labor shortage within our industry. This includes earlier promotions and support of Touch A Trade, Masthead, NC Tech Paths, the SkillsUSA program, and our long-running Joe Faw Scholarship Fund. Just last month, NCWorks representatives Brian Lane and Allen Osborne detailed how and where our members could secure their next potential employee. Only a handful of the nearly 100 people who stop by NCWorks each week looking for work might be a suitable candidate for a construction job. But NCWorks would only contact a company after determining if there’ a possible match. These walk-ins range in age from 15 — 70 and beyond. Some have found the so-called ‘older’ worker to truly be more reliable and easier to take direction. There could be someone who has had a previous minor encounter with the Law — known as ‘second chance’ employees for which there are tax breaks and incentives for hiring. Under the Title 1 program administered by NCWorks, there is money for ‘on the job’ training, gaining a required license (think plumbing, electrical, CDL, and so on), and mentoring. There’s much more offered through NCWorks. For more info visit ncworks.gov.

Also, The Wilkes-Yadkin HBA has supported the Nichols for Kids program administered by Wilkes County Schools and The Child Food Emergency Fund carried out by Yadkin County Schools, the Humane Society of Wilkes, the Samaritan Kitchen Back Pack Initiative, The Toy Store operated by h.o.p.e. Ministries, and The ReStore Program at Wilkes Habitat for Humanity.

The second “Making Memories and Dust” Skeet Shoot competition (rifles, shotguns, pistols) will be Saturday, September 14, at Chetola Sporting Reserve near Boone. See Bryan Huffman (Johnny Huffman Plumbing), Jason Dancy (McLeans Floorcoverings), David Barlow (G & B Energy-Millers Creek) or Andy Steele (FRS Builders) for details on teams and available sponsorships.