Scholarship Fund
Helping the industry move forward
Scholarship cheque presentation to Matt Batten of Alggin , Calgary
Cheque presentation to Nathan Crier by Gary Bianchini , provincial president and Tony Borsje , vice president of SMCAA
In 2014 , SMCAA honoured four very deserving recipients with scholarships of $ 500 each to help defray out-of-pocket expenses while attending classes . In a continuing effort to promote Alberta ’ s sheet metal industry and help those individuals who want to achieve their apprenticeship as a sheet metal worker , the SMCAA honoured eight very worthy individuals with scholarships of $ 500 each in 2015 .
Awarded to employees of SMCAA member companies , the scholarships are making the goals of the province ’ s future sheet metal workers a little more accessible .
“ The scholarship funds are there to support the apprentices who have attended and passed the required curriculum ,” explains Tyler Bungay , who , as chair of the SMCAA Scholarship Fund Committee , presides over all committee meetings and ensures the integrity of the selection process remains intact .
“ The intent is that the funds received will help to subsidize a portion of the out-of-pocket expenses that may have occurred while the recipients were attending classes . Most apprentices will have government assistance , but it will not typically cover the loss of a full paycheque .”
It was in 2013 that SMCAA had the vision to start a scholarship program , recalls SMCAA ’ s executive director , Wilma Agnew .
“ We sought a way to support our future workforce , promote our ever-growing industry , as well as provide a direct benefit to our member companies .”
Adds Bungay , “ Our industry is awesome . There ’ s a lot of potential and great people , so it ’ s very important to keep growing and engaging young people to come into our industry .”
He says many sheet metal contractors are getting older and will be retiring in the next 10 years .
“ So it ’ s about trying to capture those young people to come into our industry in lieu of another trade or working in another industry . There are lot of trades vying for the same percentage of people . When they do come , we want to support them so they don ’ t want to leave .”
10 March 2016 • www . smcaa . ca