This article is from HBAV's historical archive. Some formatting may differ from current articles.
Our members demonstrated their support for building our future workforce during a special live auction, which was held during the Building Excellence Awards celebration at our Annual Conference last month. Auction funds will support HBAV Education Foundation programs.
While we expected a slate of rare auction items to attract some excited bidding, we were overwhelmed by the bidding frenzy for a limited-edition run of 100 hats featuring our foundation’s logo. Those hats alone generated $7,600 – representing nearly a third of the total $23,225 raised.
Each of our five Teacher of the Year finalists encouraged members to raise their paddles, as each took the stage to talk about working with students. Introduced this year, the Teacher of the Year Award recognizes an individual for dedication to education, ability to inspire students to pursue careers in the building trades, and contributions to workforce development in the construction industry.
Josiah Stinson, a carpentry instructor at Spotsylvania Career and Technical Center, was selected as inaugural recipient. After serving more than a dozen years in the Army, Stinson saw a need for a local shop teacher while earning his education degree. Blending his construction background and passion for woodworking, he has built a strong program that connects students through projects where they apply the principles they’re learning and help fund the curriculum. Along with basic carpentry skills, Stinson teaches woodworking, furniture making and basic cabinetry, using hand tools, power tools and new technology. He leads the NAHB student chapter and enages his students with the Fredericksburg Area Builders Association.
“Ask any homebuilder to name the top three hurdles to business today, and finding talented craftspeople and reliable crews is on that list,” said Scott Hine, chair of the HBAV Education Foundation Committee and producing area sales manager for Union Home Mortgage in Fredericksburg. “Our members’ generosity helps us take a big step forward in raising awareness for these great jobs and preparing youths ready for solid careers. And, I must add, those hats are a great way to market our program, so we encourage our members to wear them proudly in our communities.”
After the conference, our Education Foundation Committee voted to distribute the hat auction proceeds to the schools where our five Teacher of the Year finalists serve. Each school will receive an equal share of that pool. Those instructors and schools are:
- Charlie Smith, instructor with more than 40 years of experience in construction, design, electrical engineering and project management, and Curtis West, craft instructor who teaches CORE construction, Build Smart Institute.
- Noah Hughes, carpentry instructor, Caroline County Public Schools.
- Stinson, Spotsylvania Career and Technical Center.
- Bradley Bryant, carpentry instructor, Valley Career and Technical Center.
Overall, the auction raised $23,225. Those funds support scholarships, training, apprentices and other programs that recruit and prepare individuals to work in the home-building industry.
Visit the HBAV Education Foundation to learn more about the mission and impact of our nonprofit organization, as well as to make a tax-deductible donation. You can make a one-time donation or schedule monthly, quarterly or annual gifts. Every dollar goes to support growing our future workforce.
