The 2024-2025 academic year marks the 28th year OCA has assisted college students through its Hall of Fame Scholarship program. This year, the initiative is awarding a total of $35,500 in the form of nine, one-year endowments.
The Hall of Fame Scholarship program is funded through the OCA Advancement Foundation, which is an endowment fund established through donations from OCA members supporting the association’s education and workforce initiatives. The OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship program is also supported by additional funding through the Heffner Fund.
The nine OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship recipients receiving endowments for the 2024-2025 academic year are students showing interest in Ohio’s heavy/civil or utility construction fields by majoring in civil engineering, construction management, or construction technology programs.
This year’s recipients represent five Ohio institutions: Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), University of Cincinnati (UC), Columbus State Community College, Ohio Northern University (ONU), and Youngstown State University (YSU). Included among this year’s Hall of Fame Scholarship class are three repeat recipients: UC’s Colby Sipos, ONU’s Bryce Havenar, and YSU’s Tyler Mann.
OCA Hall of Fame Scholarships are awarded to students in their second year of obtaining an associate’s degree, or in their third, fourth, or fifth year of study for a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Student recipients have been recommended for the scholarship by academic professors/instructors and OCA member representatives, and are selected based on scholastic ability and financial assistance need.
With the inclusion of this year’s recipients, the OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship Program has awarded more than $400,000 in endowments since 1996. Highlighting this year’s scholarships is an increase in the one-year endowments. For the 2024-2025 academic year, awards have been increased to $4,000 for those pursuing 4-year degrees, and to $1,500 for those pursuing 2-year degrees. These increases were implemented after an informal review of rising tuition costs.
Another first for the scholarship program is the awarding of the Heffner Fund Award for Conspicuous Merit, which is an additional $2,000 endowment given to the student receiving the highest score as judged by the OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship Taskforce. The inaugural recipient of the Heffner Fund Award for Conspicuous Merit is CWRU’s Shanti Jacobson.
Let’s learn more about the 2024-2025 academic year’s OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship recipients:
DEVANDRA ANDERSON
University of Cincinnati
Construction Management
Devandra Anderson seemingly has no problem finishing the sentence: “This is the time of your life to …”
For the construction management major at the University of Cincinnati, her response would be to see, experience and learn as much as you can. Planning to graduate in May 2026, the Maple Heights native through her co-ops has worked on construction of healthcare and school projects and this summer is experiencing work on a multi-family residential project in Nashville. “I hope to soon experience a co-op within the heavy/highway industry to be able to have a better perspective of what’s all included when doing heavy construction and be able to form my own opinion on what I might like to add to it myself,” she said.
“… I’m still growing in my role in this industry and looking for my calling throughout my co-op experiences. Post-graduation, I hope to have a better insight on my interest and pursue what I believe fits me best.”
The OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient’s initial interest in construction is a popular one: “I really enjoyed the idea of being able to drive past a building or project and having the ability to say, ‘I built that.’ That was the most compelling part of this industry at the beginning, but after working in it with the couple of internships I’ve had so far, I believe I found the most appealing part of the industry is the fact that you are always learning.”
A first-time Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient, Anderson said, “I knew about programs that OCA organizes, like the Estimating Competition, and learned about that through speaking with professors when looking for ways to be more involved in student activities.
“Being an OCA Scholarship recipient means to me that you’ve all recognized me as a promising and rising star in the construction industry, which I’m thankful for.”
CHANDLER CLARK
Ohio Northern University
Civil Engineering
It should be of little surprise that someone who is nimble on their feet on the athletic field is looking for similar conditions after their competitive playing days.
“… Civil engineering gives me the opportunity to pursue a career that aligns with my passion. It allows me to be on my feet, work outdoors in various environments and engage with others while utilizing critical skills such as problem solving and engineering methodologies,” said Chandler Clark, a civil engineering major at Ohio Northern University and a forward/attack on the Polar Bears Women’s Soccer Team.
Set to graduate in May 2025, the Lima native has interned with ODOT and is currently a Construction Engineer Intern with the Department. “I have had the privilege to work with (ODOT) and gain hands-on knowledge about the construction sector, partnering with contractors and the comprehensive effort that is required to successfully execute a project.”
With the post-graduation goal of being hired initially as a field engineer, Clark added, “After some years of experience, I hope to expand upon my involvement in the construction industry and lead a construction firm or even open one on my own. Ultimately, it is my goal to be one of the few women leaders in the construction world in the future.
“I am incredibly thankful to receive the OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship, as it paves the way to my future success,” Clark said. “With the financial support, I can fully dedicate myself to my summer internship, prioritizing vital learning experiences in the field regardless of the compensation.”
CODY COMPTON
Columbus State Community College
Construction Management
As first impressions go, the Ohio Contractors Association did a pretty good job when it offered a Hall of Fame Scholarship to Cody Compton.
“I have never received a scholarship, so it’s a great feeling knowing I was awarded,” said the construction management major at Columbus State Community College. “It’s extremely helpful, especially in the world today, to get some help in order to accomplish something I have been working towards for a while now,” he said of earning the endowment.
While the scholarship is among Compton’s first connections to OCA, he is familiar with the construction industry. “I have worked in construction for a number of years and am currently working in an internship with Holder Construction on a data center in New Albany.” A native of Enon, Compton said the ability “to see creations come to life and know the work is being utilized” is what drew him to construction, adding, “I want to do work that is useful and find a career with a lot of growth.”
On track to graduate in spring 2026, Compton, who is a non-traditional student, says his strongest traits for a future employer includes his “ability to fit any situation and being personable and willing to help others accomplish their goals.” Among the goals for his career are to be a strong leader and “help the younger generation get into this field and show them that no matter your background or where you are from you can have a promising career and make a healthy living doing it.”
Compton’s willingness to help others isn’t based on his post-graduation goals, as he and his wife are finding ways to help their community now. “My wife and I are building a farming business in order to provide better quality food and products to our families and community, and to one day be able to create jobs as well.”
BRYCE HAVENAR
Ohio Northern University
Civil Engineering
One of the keys to success is taking advantage of the opportunities you’re given. It’s a lesson Bryce Havenar, a two-time OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient, has learned as a civil engineering graduate of Ohio Northern University.
A May graduate, Havenar is working full-time as an engineer and surveyor with ODOT District 7 in his hometown of Sidney. The full-time position stems from an internship he had with the ODOT district and continues a string of examples where Havenar has made the most of his opportunities.
Growing up in the home of two civil engineers, Havenar benefitted from absorbing the day-to-day knowledge of the profession. “… Both of my parents are civil engineers, so I was always around civil engineers,” he said. “As I grew older, I became more and more interested in the unique stories and pictures they would share from their job every day, which is when I began to realize that I wanted to follow in their footsteps …”
He also mentions the advantages he was afforded by listening and working with industry professionals during his time in school. “Throughout college we had many heavy/highway speakers and company visits at ONU. I also got to work closely with our industry advisors for the OCA Estimating Competition,” he said. “Working with them provided a whole new level of real-world experience that most students didn’t receive.”
Havenar, an All-American Trapshooter and member of the 2023 All-Ohio Trapshooting Team, has taken advantage as a Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient of taking aim at a successful career. “The scholarships helped me pay for my last two years of school, as well as start preparing for my future Fundamental of Engineering and Surveying exams. One notable highlight within the last year for me was passing my Fundamentals of Engineering exam. This exam is the first of two exams I must pass in order to achieve my lifelong dream of becoming a civil engineer.”
SHANTI JACOBSON
Case Western Reserve University
Civil Engineering
Seeing things from different perspectives is a trait Shanti Jacobson has formed and strengthened throughout her life, and it is one she hopes to provide a future employer upon graduating from Case Western Reserve University this December.
“I think my strongest trait as a person and employee is my ability to see multiple perspectives,” said the civil engineering major. “I think in an industry where you are dealing with so many different people, it is really important to understand where people are coming from before trying to proceed with a discussion or a negotiation.”
The Cleveland Heights resident, and first recipient of the Heffner Fund Award for Conspicuous Merit, developed her ability to see multiple sides of an issue while growing up. “Even though I am from Cleveland, I spent most of my life outside of the United States. I lived in five other countries in both Asia and Europe and got to travel a lot, which was a great experience,” said the high school graduate of American International School of Budapest.
Currently participating in her second internship with Gilbane Building Co., Jacobson has broadened her industry knowledge by participating the past two years on CWRU’s student team in the OCA Estimating Competition and taken part in the association’s Constructor For A Day program. “What made me gain an interest in the construction industry were the site visits I’ve taken as a student,” she said. “I loved seeing things being built in real-time and learning the steps in which this happens.”
Jacobson is thankful for receiving the scholarship – especially its increased monetary amount. “… I will be using the scholarship to support my tuition and living expenses as a student next semester. These have both increased in cost every year, so it is greatly appreciated that the amount of the scholarship has increased correspondingly to address higher living expenses.”
TYLER MANN
Youngstown State University
Civil & Construction Engineering Technology
For the past 18 months with Marucci & Gaffney Excavating Company, Tyler Mann has balanced the heavy load of working full-time and working toward a civil & construction engineering technology degree from Youngstown State University.
For a non-traditional student like Mann, who is balancing work and school, being one of three repeat recipients of an OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship is even more meaningful. “It helped me pay for tuition and living expenses – like my mortgage,” said Mann, who is a graduate of North Canton Hoover High School. “I’ve worked all through college full-time in the construction/heavy-highway industry while attending classes full-time.”
Learning about OCA through Marucci & Gaffney Excavating’s membership in the association, Mann said there are several reasons why he was attracted to construction, such as “getting to work with your hands and (being) active in the process of bringing the design to life.” He also noted that the aspect of “problem solving and on-the-fly design when plans are incomplete, missing details or ambiguous” were other reasons why he believes he is a good fit for the industry.
When asked about the strongest trait he brings to an employer, Mann answered: “I never quit, persistence is the key.” He adds, “I will outwork the competition.” Plans following graduation are to continue working and begin studying for his Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
Mann said being a repeat recipient of an OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship is meaningful. “It means a lot since every little bit helps when you’re working and going to school simultaneously. The amount (of the scholarship) increasing just helps the burden and allows me not to stress about bills while I’m working and attending classes.”
ALISON PEREZ
University of Cincinnati
Construction Management
As are many college students, Alison Perez is an avid learner.
“My strongest professional trait is that I am interested in learning,” said Perez, a construction management major at the University of Cincinnati who is set to graduate in 2025. “I want to thrive in every role I am in, regardless of the responsibilities. I enjoy the challenge of taking on tasks I may not know how to do and love the learning that asking questions provides.”
The Franklin native is taking advantage of UC’s strong co-op program to learn by doing and experiencing. “I have had the opportunity to work at several great companies,” she said of her experiences with Barrett Paving Materials, commercial general contractors and this summer working in Chicago on a transit line project.
It in her current co-op, Perez is learning about directional drilling. “This is my first exposure to directional drilling, and I find the process to be interesting … This was used to drill under the tracks so as not to impact the railway,” said the two-time competitor in the OCA Estimating Competition.
While Perez has opportunities to experience work in the construction industry through additional co-ops, she has thought about her future career. “After graduation, I hope to join a heavy-civil company as a project engineer. In working my way towards being a project manager, I want to work on complex projects that will help a lot of people.”
Perez has bolstered her learning by being active in the school’s Construction Student Association, which she says has provided her “with the opportunity to hear from numerous companies, participate in site visits and compete in competitions throughout the school year.”
Reading has also helped Perez’s acuity. “In my free time, I really enjoy reading,” she said. “I have averaged reading 100 books a year for the past three years.”
DEREK RAUH
University of Cincinnati
Civil Engineering
In discussing his hopes of making an impact in his future career, Derek Rauh was reminded of the words of one of his University of Cincinnati professors. “One of my professors said something to everyone in the class that caught me off guard,” said the Versailles native who will earn his college degree following this summer’s co-op. “He explained how civil engineering has the greatest and most-direct impact on society and quality of life when compared to any other type of engineering. I don’t think I realized before, but I just enjoy being able to make a difference in communities and improve the places near where I live for the better.”
Rauh, who will graduate with a civil engineering degree and begin working full-time with an engineering firm, said he has had “the privilege” of experiencing four co-op semesters with three companies. Through these co-op experiences, involvement in UC’s Construction Student Association and serving on the executive team of the school’s American Society of Civil Engineers, Rauh said he is well aware of OCA’s role in “showcasing the construction industry” in Ohio.
“Being an OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient is a tremendous honor and recognition of my hard work and dedication to civil engineering,” he said. “… The increased amounts signify OCA’s commitment to supporting the next generation of engineers while also acknowledging the growing cost of education, which is incredibly encouraging and motivating.”
Civil engineering is not the only thing Rauh has an appetite for, as proven by the two-time eating champ of Versailles. “In the town where I grew up, there is an annual festival called Poultry Days. In the past few years, they started an event called the Chicken Eating Contest,” he said of the contest that pits contestants in a race to consume six barbecue chicken legs, potato chips, apple sauce, roll, butter and orange drink. Rauh is a proud multi-time winner, whose fastest time is two-and-a-half minutes.
COLBY SIPOS
University of Cincinnati
Construction Management
Like his record collection, repeat OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient Colby Sipos’ connection to the association is growing.
“… I have had the great opportunity to participate in multiple (OCA) Estimating Competitions, Constructor For A Days and have been employed by two separate companies – John R. Jurgensen Company and Shelly & Sands Inc. – for co-ops who are OCA members,” said the Newark native.
Following his May 2025 graduation from the University of Cincinnati with a construction management degree, Sipos aspires to becoming a project manager in the heavy civil/heavy-highway industry. “I have had the opportunity to perform a lot of assistant project manager tasks during my co-ops and have enjoyed every second of it … I see myself finding a role as an assistant project manager, then moving up to a position as high as senior project manager or even an operations manager with time and hard work.”
Sipos said earning a second Hall of Fame Scholarship has instilled confidence to pursue a future in the industry. “… Receiving this scholarship means the most to me compared to other scholarships I have received. To me, it feels like the industry I have come to enjoy so much has taken stock in me to become a great project manager and continue to grow the industry to keep building the infrastructure our country depends on.
“The increased amount of the scholarship award further drives my previous statement that OCA is devoted to support and take stock in myself and my peers who are devoted to pursuing a career in the heavy/highway industry.”
About that vinyl collection. When Sipos received his first Hall of Fame Scholarship in 2023, he had gathered a collection of 400 albums. “… I have continued to grow my vinyl record collection, amassing well over 500 records from various artists of all genres – but mostly country artists,” he said.
The 2025-2026 academic year’s OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship recipients will be announced later this year. The application link for the scholarships opens August 1 and will be available at https://www.jotform.com/build/240424564444151. For more information on OCA’s Hall of Fame Scholarship program, contact OCA Membership & Advancement Foundation Director Lynda Pomeroy by emailing lpomeroy@ohiocontractors.org.
Update from the Hall of Fame Scholarship Taskforce
Each year, the OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship Taskforce members volunteer hours of their time and offer thoughtful evaluation of scholarship applications to arrive at our slate of scholarship recipients. OCA thanks these individuals for their generous time, leadership and dedication to the future of the industry:
- Rachel Bates, Eagle Bridge Co.
- Jackie Cooper, The Ruhlin Co.
- Nick DiGeronimo, Independence Excavating Inc.
- Mike Dinneen, AGG Rok Materials
- Parr Peterson, Paul Peterson Co.
- Chris Szabo, The Ruhlin Co.
Additional thanks go out to the many member firm representatives who took time to send in letters of recommendation for applicants; those letters of recommendation do lend additional weight in the scoring process and may strengthen the connection between your firm and the applicant.
When the OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship Taskforce met in May to review applications for the 2024-2025 recipients, it approved significant changes to the award amounts and structure:
- Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, awards are increased to $4,000 for those pursuing 4-year degrees, and to $1,500 for those pursuing 2-year degrees. These increases were implemented after an informal review of increased tuition costs.
- For the first time, the Heffner Fund Award for Conspicuous Merit was awarded to the year’s top-scoring recipient. That distinction comes with an additional $2,000, making the top award $6,000; this award will continue moving forward.
- To capture the attention of co-ops/interns/summer workers who might be good candidates for the Hall of Fame Scholarships, the application will now go live August 1st, with awards announced before the holidays each year. Remember, a letter of recommendation for these candidates does increase their chances!
- Significant adjustments were made to the application.
OCA is grateful to the OCA Advancement Foundation (OCAAF) donors; this group has given generously to establish an endowment to fuel OCA programs designed to build awareness of careers in our industry, and to engage our workforce. It is their eye-to-the-future that makes OCA’s Hall of Fame Scholarship Awards possible.
Endless thanks go out to the OCAAF Board of Directors:
(From left) OCAAF Chairperson Nick DiGeronimo (Independence Excavating Inc.), Jim Ruhlin Sr. (The Ruhlin Co.), Mike Dinneen (AGG Rok Materials), Parr Peterson (retired-Paul Peterson Co.), OCA President Chris Runyan, and Jackie Alf (John R. Jurgensen Co.).
– Lynda Pomeroy, OCA Director, Membership & Advancement Foundation
Hall of Fame Scholarship Students Provide Thoughts on Construction Technology, Projects, Workforce
In preparation for their professional careers, the OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship recipients are honing their knowledge by learning different aspects of the heavy/highway industry. The 2024-2025 scholarship recipients provided their thoughts on topics ranging from technology, current high-profile construction projects in the state and how the industry can help combat the workforce shortage.
While the Harvard Business Review is reporting that “construction is often maligned as the industry that technology left behind,” this year’s OCA Hall of Fame Scholarship recipients kindly refuse the notion and point to technology such as drones, concrete testing, lean construction, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Global Positioning System (GPS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“The use of unmanned drones is becoming more and more common in all aspects of construction today,” said Ohio Northern University’s (ONU’s) Bryce Havenar. “My interest in unmanned drones led me to becoming a Certified Remote Pilot, which will allow me to further explore all the new ways drones can be utilized.”
Columbus State Community College’s Cody Compton adds, “Using drones to help with underground and grading in the preconstruction phase is a huge benefit that saves a lot of time and resources.”
Devandra Anderson, of the University of Cincinnati (UC), and ONU’s Chandler Clark are intrigued about ways to accelerate construction procedures and make them more efficient. “I find the design and testing of new concrete in the field fascinating, because it involves efforts to minimize the time needed for effectiveness while maintaining important properties such as strength and durability,” Clark said.
The philosophy of lean construction is intriguing to Anderson, who learned about the topic in a summer class. “Aiming to make construction as productive as possible is something I can see myself being very passionate about and is something I believe I’ll aim to work for in the future,” she said.
UC’s Colby Sipos and Derek Rauh, Case Western Reserve University’s (CWRU) Shanti Jacobson and Youngstown State University’s (YSU) Tyler Mann are seeing how recent technology through GPS, Intelligent Machine Control (IMC) and AI have already and will continue to transform the industry.
“Recently … I have heard of a scanner that has the ability to scan empty dump truck beds as they arrive to the plant/quarry and then scan them again as they depart to determine how much material they are leaving with,” said Sipos. “This new innovation will help cut cycle times down and eliminate the need to calibrate scales. I find this to be a very cool new piece of technology that could most likely be implemented all over the state.”
Having used BIM during an internship, which allowed her to use the software to “take photos and mark up drawings while doing inspections,” Jacobson was impressed with the technology. “You can then upload these to a shared server, and they can get sent to the subcontractor of your choice. I think this has been really useful in streamlining the RCL and punch list process.”
“I am equally intrigued and skeptical about the application of AI …,” said Rauh. “I think a lot of people dislike the idea of too much autonomy in the construction world, but I think an AI wave is going to change how a lot of occupations work, and I’m interested in seeing if anything dramatic happens to civil engineering.”
The current influx of highway and infrastructure projects throughout Ohio are serving as “real-time” lab studies for the Hall of Fame Scholarship recipients. Projects catching the watchful eyes of students range from a major bridge crossing the Ohio River; a diverging diamond interchange in Findlay; an interceptor project in Akron; as well as a unique way to build community involvement and safety in southwest Ohio.
UC’s Alison Perez, Sipos, Anderson and ONU’s Havenar are watching the planning and progress of the Brent Spence Corridor. “The new Brent Spence Companian Bridge being built in Cincinnati is an interesting project both because it is close to home but also because of its complexity,” said Perez. “Learning the impact this project will have on the workforce, economically and the region overall has been new exposure to the ‘other side’ of our industry.”
UC’s Rauh has found it interesting in how the community outreach efforts will make a newly constructed roundabout in Blue Ash safer for motorists. “(Project owners) understand that roundabouts can sometimes be a difficult thing to navigate or appreciate for drivers who are not familiar with them,” he said. “Therefore, they had a day where they closed off the traffic and rented out golf carts and let members of the community take turns driving them on the roundabouts. They allowed them to practice and instilled some confidence in them. I thought this was a fun and unique way to connect with the public.”
A third area of conversation with this year’s Hall of Fame Scholarship recipients was how the industry can perhaps better attract its future workforce members. Several students took the industry and their schools to task, from having the “heavy/highway industry more active at university career fairs” and having better information on “all the branches that civil engineering offers,” to wanting “to see heavy civil construction incorporated into the construction management curriculum at schools more.”
In the brief time he has spent in co-ops, UC’s Sipos has noticed the No.1 void in the industry’s workforce. “There doesn’t seem to be enough young people entering into the trades, which I believe will be a big issue with many of the older men and women entering retirement and leaving our workforce diminished …,” he said.
YSU’s Mann believes “education” is needed both internally and externally. “I think they need to educate the public on how difficult it is to repair the roads and maintain traffic at the same time,” he said. “Most people take road construction for granted and only complain when there’s work going on, or the roads are so bad they need worked on. Most people don’t realize the process it takes to get those new roads and bridges actually designed and built.”
