HCSS’s fourth-annual $50,000 Construction Intern Awards scholarship program for students in construction-related fields features 13 weekly contests in 2018 — running from June 4 through Sept. 2 — that will award 12, $2,000 scholarships and one special $4,000 scholarship. Pictured is the 2017 Intern of the Year, Keith Krass (R), receiving a $10,000 scholarship check from HCSS CFO Steve McGough.
Construction industry software developer HCSS has opened registration for its fourth-annual $50,000 Construction Intern Awards scholarship program for students in construction-related fields. A new twist added to this year's program features 13 weekly contests — running from June 4 through Sept. 2 — that will award 12, $2,000 scholarships and one special $4,000 scholarship.
In all, 17 scholarships will be awarded with the grand prize, $10,000 Intern of the Year scholarship and three $4,000 Finalist scholarships announced in November. Also new this year, student interns can receive up to two weekly scholarships and remain eligible to receive the grand prize Intern of the Year scholarship.
“Our Construction Intern Awards scholarship program is about showcasing and recognizing the top interns and the companies who help them succeed,” said Steve McGough, president and CFO of HCSS. “This year, we wanted to expand opportunities for highly motivated interns to earn more scholarships, while generating more program excitement and engagement by holding weekly contests. The new format allows students to post pictures while completing their internships.”
Program Details
Construction Intern Awards scholarship program participants must have completed or be currently enrolled in a construction-related internship lasting at least two months during the January 2017 to August 2018 school year. Participants still working to complete their summer internships are eligible to enter the weekly scholarship contests. Online registration started June 1 at www.constructioninternawards.com, where interns can apply for the weekly and grand prize scholarships.
The first weekly scholarship contest began on June 4, and each weekly contest comprises of different entry topics. Interns must submit a photo with a 50- to 75-word caption that responds to the week's topic. The top five entries, based on popular online voting, are then sent to an internal HCSS judging committee, which awards the weekly $2,000 scholarships. The winners will be announced the Tuesday of the week following competition closing on the contest's Instagram (@learnconstruction) and Facebook (2018 Construction Intern Awards) accounts. HCSS will award a special “bonus” weekly scholarship during the summer.
Registration for the grand prize Intern of the Year competition remains open from June 4 through Sept. 30. Student interns enter by answering five essay questions plus submitting photos and videos that help to tell their story. Eight semi-finalists, selected by the internal HCSS committee, will be forwarded to a voting panel of prestigious construction industry experts. The panel will select three interns receiving the $4,000 Finalist scholarships and the $10,000 grand prize Intern of the Year recipient.
This year's expert panel includes previous Interns of the Year Keith Krass, Rey Diaz and Chase Ekstam; Pete Ruane, president and CEO of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA); Steve Sandherr, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC); Stan Orr, president and CSO of the Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP); Greg Sizemore, vice president of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC); Carl Heinlein, senior safety consultant — American Contractors Insurance Group; Rick Schwer, president of SGC/SGC Horizon; Stuart Binstock, president and CEO of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA); Michael Holland, president of the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE); Lori Brown, immediate past president of the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC); Bill Hillman, CEO of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA); Marcia Gruver Doyle, editorial director, Randall-Reilly; and Steve McGough, president and CFO of HCSS.
Critical Scholarship Program Dates/Deadlines:
- June 1 — online registration opens at www.constructioninternawards.com
- June 4 — first weekly scholarship contest and grand prize Intern of the Year scholarship entries open at 12 a.m. CDT
- September 2 — last weekly scholarship contest and grand prize Intern of the Year scholarship entries close at 11:59 p.m. CDT
- October 17 — eight grand prize semifinalists announced and sent to prestigious judge panel
- November 14 — the three Finalist and grand prize Intern of the Year scholarship winners announced
About HCSS
With a suite of software products that includes construction estimating, field entry, dispatching, equipment maintenance, telematics, fuel management and safety, HCSS provides the construction industry with software solutions and fully-managed, Cloud hosting options that help construction companies work faster, smarter and more efficiently. Since 1986, HCSS products have delivered value for more than 45,000 construction professionals, including 24 of the Top 25 ENR Contractors.
For more information, visit www.hcss.com.
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