Five local schools received classroom grants through the Foundation for Future Building Trades—four high schools were awarded $2,000 each and one junior high received $1,000—to support hands-on construction education. In addition, seven students earned scholarships totaling $7,500 to further their education or purchase tools for careers in the construction industry.
Classroom grants were awarded to the following schools.
- Heritage High School – Instructor Jason Tipton will lead students in constructing a 10’ x 12’ storage shed, teaching framing techniques and foundational layout skills including flooring, walls, rafters, doors, and windows.
- William Blount High School – Instructor Doug Blair will oversee two projects including flag-building in a fundamentals class and Adirondack chair construction for year one students. Both projects emphasize tool safety, measurement, and hands-on craftsmanship.
- Maryville High School – Instructor Brandon McMurrary will oversee three projects including birdhouse building in a fundamentals class, wooden car building in a residential construction 1 class, and stair system building in a residential construction 2 class.
- Eagleton College and Career Academy – Instructor Steven Geiger will utilize funding in both the HVAC and Electrical programs, specifically for consumables and a HVAC line set. The remainder of the funds will be utilized to expand the tool inventory for the classroom.
- Maryville Junior High School – Instructor Jeremy Russell will utilize funding to replace equipment and provide materials for storage shelving, which will be built by students in his courses.
Scholarships were awarded to the following students.
- Cassandra Swett, William Blount High School – $1,250
- Gabriel Tucker, William Blount High School – $1,100
- James Sackermann, William Blount High School – $900
- Orin Patton, William Blount High School – $900
- Jared Roberts, William Blount High School – $850
- Colin Stringer, Maryville High School – $1,275
- Dawson Simerly, Maryville High School – $1,225
Students applied for scholarships to support either continued education or the purchase of tools and equipment needed for employment in the construction field.
These awards were made possible through the consolidation of nearly $450,000 from the former Builders & Associates of Blount County chapter into the Foundation for Future Building Trades. The Foundation funds classroom grants and scholarships with a focus on residential construction, aiming to grow the pipeline of skilled workers in the local construction industry.
The initiative is overseen by the Blount Partnership’s Construction Workforce Advisory Committee, which manages grant and scholarship disbursements.
“We are excited to provide these opportunities to local students and are committed to helping shape the future of the construction industry, particularly in residential building,” said Blount Partnership’s Director of Workforce Development Jessica Belitz. “These scholarships and grants will not only help students succeed but will also strengthen the local workforce, ensuring that our community has access to highly skilled professionals for years to come.”
The Foundation is actively seeking donations to sustain and grow this effort, which aligns with broader goals of workforce development and regional economic growth.
Photo cutlines:
William Blount High School recipients (L-R): Greg Newman (Foundation for Future Building Trades), James Sackermann, Gabe Tucker, Orin Patton, Jared Roberts, Cassandra Swett, Denver Hunt (Foundation for Future Building Trades).
Maryville High School recipients (L-R): Dawson Simerly, Brian Davis (Danny Davis Electric), Colin Stringer.