FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Amanda.smith@spiritofconstruction.org, 859.525.6817
Spirit of Construction Foundation Awards Record-breaking 58 Scholarships
CINCINNATI, OH, OCT 1, 2026¬ – The Spirit of Construction Foundation (SOC, the Foundation) celebrated an historic milestone this year, awarding $129,800 in scholarships to 58 students, the largest scholarship investment and highest number of recipients in the organization’s history.
Since launching its scholarship program in 2004 at University of Cincinnati, the Foundation has remained committed to supporting the next generation of construction professionals and industry leaders. With this year’s awards, the Foundation has now distributed a total of $808,557 in scholarships to 340 individuals, helping students pursue careers in construction, engineering, architecture, design, and skilled trades.
A highlight of the annual scholarship breakfast, co-hosted by Perfection Group at Kenwood Country Club on Wednesday, September 23, was the participation of previous recipients, who returned to present to members of the 2026 scholarship class.
“Seeing 58 students receive scholarships this year is a great reminder of why we continue to invest in this program through the Perfection Group Foundation. These students are the future of our industry, and we’re proud to help create opportunities for them to pursue their education, build meaningful careers and carry our industry forward,” said John Albrecht, owner and COO of Perfection Group.
“Having former scholarship recipients return to honor the next generation is a powerful reminder of how these scholarships create opportunities that extend far beyond financial assistance,” said Mark Lambert, Spirit of Construction Board President. “This year’s record-breaking achievement reflects both the growing need for workforce development in the construction industry and the generosity of the donors and partners who believe in these students.”
The following scholarships were awarded:
Steve Arnold Memorial Scholarship Fund- Established in memory of Steve Arnold who worked at Bray Construction and unexpectedly passed away in 2025, the fund honors Steve’s legacy by supporting the next generation of construction professionals. This year’s inaugural recipient, Kolton Decker, is pursuing a career in diesel mechanics and heavy equipment and exemplifies the hard work, determination, and commitment that Steve valued throughout his life. Upon learning that Kolton was selected, Steve’s wife shared, “I know Steve would be happy it is going to a Bray employee.”
Skilled Trades Scholarships – These scholarships of $1,000 each reflect the Foundation’s commitment to investing in the future of high demand, hands on professions. Designed to support individuals pursuing careers in the skilled trades, this award provides meaningful financial assistance to help students stay enrolled, focused, and moving confidently toward their career goals.
This year, due to the generosity of Perfection Group and the Spirit of Construction Endowment donors, 25 awards were made to:
Cameron Marcy, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Noah Barner, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Brian Fortney, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Zach Klare, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Jackson Bitter, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Jack Baker, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Jack McCarty, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
DeVaughn Simmons, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Greg Ulmer, St. Joseph the Worker
Payton Harris, Gateway Community & Technical College
Andreas Allen, Butler Tech
Kolton Decker, Gateway Community & Technical College
Bradley Reed, Jefferson Community College
Janet Clifford, Gateway Community & Technical College
Ava Frame, Warren County Career Center
Emma Klette, Gateway Community & Technical College
William Hoh, Enzweiler Building Institute
Antonio Brooks, Great Oaks
Ismail Bakkas, Great Oaks
Shakirin Nuhammad, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Erick Silva, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Joey Schmidt, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Noah Francis, Elite Welding Academy
Kenneth Shepard, Elite Welding Academy
Ali Aghad, Great Oaks
Spirit of Construction Military Scholarships – SOC provides $5,000 scholarships to veterans who are building new futures in the trades, supporting their transition into the civilian workforce. SOC partnered with Perfection Group and Bo Hubbard (former SOC Military Scholarship recipient) to award nine scholarships this year to:
Gavin Peters, Northern Kentucky University
Michael Meyer, Northern Kentucky University
Grant Lewis, University of Cincinnati
Jacob Vanover, University of Cincinnati
Gabe Shooner, University of Cincinnati
Elijah Ellis, University of Cincinnati
Donald Hollingsworth, Cincinnati State
Ralph Fussnecker, Cincinnati State
Amaya Hagler, University of Cincinnati
Women in Construction Scholarships – Thanks to a generous $25,000 investment from the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund through Fifth Third Bank, the Foundation launched this new scholarship program in 2026 to help open doors, strengthen career pathways, and support women across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky entering the construction industry. This fund will award five $2,000 skilled trades scholarships and three $5,000 higher education scholarships to women currently enrolled in a construction related program, apprenticeship, or certification course. Eligible recipients must reside in the Greater Cincinnati region and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA. This year’s recipients include:
WIC Skilled Trades Awards
Alexis Martin, Cincinnati Construction Academy
Jeanise Randolp-Newton, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Ve’Aaju Smith, Cincinnati Construction Academy
Kristen Bihr, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Danielle Watson, Elite Welding Academy
WIC Higher Education Awards
Allysa John, Cincinnati State
Josephia Trabel, Cincinnati State
Ava Frame, UC
An additional award of $1,500 was awarded to Kristen Bihr by Regina Hartfield who received the Spirit of Construction UC Scholarship in 2011.
The Spirit of Construction Foundation also provides several Higher Education Awards directly through University of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky University, Cincinnati State, and Miami University.
University of Cincinnati – Since 2004, SOC has awarded scholarships to University of Cincinnati students in any engineering major who have reached sophomore standing or above, with preference given to students demonstrating financial need or strong leadership. This year, three $4,000 scholarships were awarded.
Additional support is provided each year to the UC Construction Student Association (CSA) through proceeds from the Annual Gala Silent Auction. These dollars are used by CSA to award scholarships and cover operational expenses of the Construction Student Association. The following students were awarded the 2026 UC CSA Scholarship:
Ashley Harper
Elijah Lay
Nathan Hwodeky
Andrew Thatcher
Jonah Hutchins
Joe Basti
Andrew Weinrich
Chris Eden
Northern Kentucky University- The Foundation is proud to support Northern Kentucky University’s Construction Management program through two $4,000 scholarships. This partnership helps NKU students begin building their careers from day one, giving them hands on experience in planning, budgeting, and project coordination as early as their first semester. This year Julia Fernandez and Colson Neace were awarded the scholarship.
Miami University- In 2026, Miami University launched a new Construction Management minor, created through a partnership between the Department of Architecture and Interior Design and the College of Engineering and Computing. To strengthen this effort, Fulcrum Lifting partnered with SOC Foundation and Miami University to award the inaugural scholarship of $5,000 to Alba Ordonez.
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College – The Cincinnati State Scholarship, funded by the SOC Foundation, provides $8,000 in annual support for students pursuing careers in the construction industry. Each year, two students receive $4,000 scholarships that can be applied toward tuition, parking, fees, and books. This year’s recipients were Emerald Smoke and Clairise Monnin.
An additional $1,300 award, from the City of Cincinnati, was given to a Braxton Boyd, a Cincinnati State student pursuing a career in construction.
For more information about the Spirit of Construction Scholarship Program, contact Amanda Smith (Amanda.smith@spiritofconstruction.org) or visit www.spiritofconstruction.org.
About Spirit of Construction Foundation
Spirit of Construction Foundation is a coalition of individuals and companies committed to the construction industry’s future growth and prosperity. Our mission is celebrating the impact of the construction industry and creating career opportunities through charitable giving, education programs, advocacy, and professional guidance.
About Perfection Group
Perfection Group is a third-generation, family-owned HVAC and facility performance partner headquartered in Cincinnati. Founded in 1951, the company designs, builds, and services high-performing facilities through HVAC service and maintenance, green energy solutions, design-build, and total facility solutions. Learn more at perfectiongroup.com.
