84 Lumber Gives $50K in Trade School Scholarships

In celebration of the next generation of trade workers, 84 Lumber hosted 10 high school seniors for a SkillsUSA National Signing Day event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania yesterday. In a style similar to National Signing Day events for high-school athletes, the students committed to careers in the skilled trades and signed “letters of intent” for a job offer, apprenticeship or advanced technical training. Following the signing, 84 Lumber President Maggie Hardy surprised all 10 students with scholarships, totaling $50,000, towards the trade school of their choosing.

The 10 students at the 84 Lumber sponsored event, along with their families and teachers, represented thousands of students across the country committing to the skilled trades through SkillsUSA this year. At a time when the residential housing sector is booming, and businesses continue to expand, 84 Lumber shines a much-needed public spotlight on students pursuing careers in the skilled trades.

“As a 65-year-old building materials company, we know firsthand that young people can thrive and have incredible, lifelong success through the skilled trades,” said Hardy. “We are proud to be a sponsor of SkillsUSA, and we are even more proud of the students we’ve been able to get to know through this event.”

Bringing even more excitement to the event, former Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome “The Bus” Bettis emceed and cheered on the students as they signed. As a Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the best all-time running backs in NFL history, Bettis has attended a few National Signing Day events of his own.

“Today is one of the most important Signing Days I have attended,” said Bettis. “I remember my own National Signing Day, and what it meant to me, my family, coaches and mentors. My own father was chief electrical inspector for the city of Detroit for 35 years, so it’s very special to be here celebrating the talents and career choices of these young people.”

The 10 scholarships from 84 Lumber were given to recipients selected by SkillsUSA. The scholarship recipients are:

• Julianna Zambrano, Center of Applied Technology North, Md.  
• Trevor Philpot, Center of Applied Technology North, Md.  
• Nyssa Lewis, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, Mass. 
• Brian Lopez Mejia, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, Mass. 
• Justin Yearwood, Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School, Pa. 
• Nathan DeBellis, Career Institute of Technology, Pa. 
• Blade Witt, Fayette County Career and Technical Institute, Pa. 
• Kayla Gomez, Fayette County Career and Technical Institute, Pa. 
• Gerson Castro-Rivera, Monroe Career and Technical Institute, Pa. 
• Luke Overholt, Upper Bucks County Technical School, Pa. 

“84 Lumber went all out in support of SkillsUSA and these students,” said SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. “The students that attended 84 Lumber’s event represented hundreds of thousands of trade workers across the country. Without these trade workers – from builders to welders to plumbers and so many more – America wouldn’t be able to function. That’s why, we are so thankful for our partners and sponsors that bring these important career paths to the limelight.”

84 Lumber is the nation’s largest privately held supplier of building materials, manufactured components, and industry-leading services for single- and multi-family residences and commercial buildings. With housing starts at record highs, and interest rates at record lows, the company is busier than ever and is looking to hire as many as 3,000 roles across the country throughout the rest of 2021. Now is the time to explore career opportunities in the building and construction industry.