Sixteenth Annual Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Winners Selected
The Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund and Advanced American Construction, (AAC) of Portland have selected 13 students to receive $45,000 in scholarships for the 2015-2016 school year. To date, the Fund has awarded 194 scholarships, ranging from $5,000 to $2,000, and totaling $512,000. From a field of 34 applicants, the Selection Committee chose those that best demonstrated academic and extra-curricular excellence in the pursuit of careers in construction and construction-related fields. Two time recipient Evan Altorfer said, “By awarding me this scholarship you have lightened my financial burden. Your generosity has blessed and inspired me. I hope one day I will be able to help other students achieve their goals just as you have helped me.”
The following scholarship awardees will be honored at the Sixteenth Annual Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Awards Dinner and Silent Auction to be held Friday, April 24, 2015, at the Sentinel Hotel, formerly The Governor Hotel in Portland, Oregon:
- Evan Altorfer of Portland, Oregon is a junior at Oregon State University pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Scholarship award: $5,000. Sponsored by Oregon Iron Works/Vigor
- Sara Ashback of Ridgefield, Washington is a sophomore at Montana State University pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Scholarship award: $5,000 Sponsored by Tarlow Naito & Summers
- Garrett Childress of Gresham, Oregon is a freshman at Oregon State University pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Scholarship award: $5,000 Sponsored by Ness & Campbell Crane
- Jacob Hoffman of Beaverton, Oregon is a junior at Oregon State University pursuing a degree in Forest and civil engineering. Scholarship award: $3,000 Sponsored by the Ashback Family – Veteran Award
- Jakob Neuenschwander of Boring, Oregon is a junior at Oregon State University, pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Scholarship award: $3,000 Sponsored by Hamilton Construction Company
- Dylan Yamamoto of Kapolei, Hawaii is a junior at George Fox University pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Scholarship award: $3,000
- Kolton Mahr of Grants Pass, Oregon is a junior at Oregon State University pursuing a degree in forest and civil engineering. Scholarship award: $3,000
- Marshall Ruehl of Spokane, Washington is a junior at Washington State University pursuing a degree in construction management. Scholarship award: $3,000
- Nicholas Hossley of North Bend, Oregon is a senior at North Bend High School planning to attend Oregon State University to pursue a degree in civil engineering in Fall 2015. Scholarship award: $3,000
- Matthew Olney of Dundee, Oregon is a sophomore at Oregon State University pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Scholarship amount: $3,000
- Tasha Petermann of Kennewick, Washington is a junior at Montana State University pursuing a degree in civil engineering. Scholarship award: $3,000
- Wiley Wolfe of Portland, Oregon is a junior at Oregon State University pursuing a degree in chemical engineering. Scholarship award: $3,000
- Devin Wyckoff of Buxton, Oregon is a junior at Oregon State University pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. Scholarship award: $3,000
“I am always amazed at the quality of the students that apply. While it’s rewarding to review the accomplishments of these future members of the construction industry, the task of selecting the scholarship recipients from the great applications we receive gets harder every year!” says Dee Burch, president of Advanced American Construction.
Originally, the scholarship fund was formed in honor of Forrest L. Schweiger, who lost his life at the age of 26 in a construction-related accident. Forrest was an employee of Advanced American Diving Service, Inc. (AADS) and son of AADS co-founder, Konrad L. Schweiger. The fund now commemorates the lives of both Forrest and his father, Konrad, who passed away in April 2002. The success and continuation of the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund is made possible with the generous financial contributions received from the customers, vendors, employees, and friends of Advanced American Construction, Inc.
Oregon Iron Works, Inc. (OIW), a Vigor Industrial Company, and Hamilton Construction have been sponsors of the fund for many years. In 2014, the fund added two more sponsors, Tarlow Naito & Summers LLP and Ness Campbell Crane. “We are glad to be a part of this great program honoring the great representatives of the construction industry, past and present,” says Corey Yraguen, OIW President.
As of 2014, the fund also added the Veteran’s Award for a student with military experience, sponsored by the Ashback Family of Ridgefield, Washington. This year’s recipient of the Veteran Award is Jacob Hoffman, who is in the Marine Corps Reserves while attending Oregon State University. Columbia Bank and the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Oregon-Columbia Chapter are also significant contributors
This year’s selection committee for the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund recipients included Hal Pritchett, professor emeritus at Oregon State University; Jan Strombeck, retired, formerly with Oregon State University; Mike McNulty of Columbia Bank; John Weisner of Coral Construction Company; Sue Clark of CNA Surety; Corey Yraguen of Oregon Iron Works; Scott Williams of Hamilton Construction; Cindy Schweiger; and Dee Burch, Mike and Holly Johns, Tim Nelson, Kyle Izatt, and Jake Duyck of Advanced American Construction, Inc.
For pictures and additional information on the Schweiger Memorial Scholarship Fund, please visit www.advanced-american.com. For award dinner tickets and donations, please contact Advanced American Construction, Inc., 503-445-9000.