Scholarships &
School Grants
For nearly 40 years, the Marquette Builders Exchange has been awarding scholarships to U.P. students who are continuing their education in construction. Areas of study have included: industrial maintenance, welding, masonry, plumbing, carpentry, architecture, engineering, drafting, electrical, and construction management. Over the years, those students have gone on to be successful and integral members of the U.P. work force. Scroll down for a list of past scholarship winners and school funds awarded.
Scholarships for U.P. High School Seniors:
The Marquette Builders Exchange awards $500 scholarships to U.P. high school seniors who will be furthering their education in order to pursue careers in the construction industry. The deadline is April 1. Download the PDF – Apply online for the scholarship
Apprentice Scholarships:
Upper Peninsula residents who are completing a DOL certified apprenticeship program in a field of construction are eligible to apply for $500 apprentice scholarships. To apply, fill out the application and return it, along with a copy of your official registration. The deadlines are Feb 1 and Oct 1. Download the PDF – Apply online for the scholarship
School Grants:
The Marquette Builders Exchange provides U.P. schools with funds to help update their industrial arts and building trades classrooms, or to purchase tools, safety equipment, or construction materials. Funds can also be used to providing bussing to competitions, field trips, or events. The deadline is October 1. Download the PDF – Apply online for the school grant
Other Scholarships & Assistance:
To apply for the Home Builders Association of the U.P. Scholarship, click here. Other opportunities are available for students pursuing Career & Technical Education degrees by contacting the CTE Committee of Marquette & Alger Counties. Please visit MARESA’s CTE website to learn more.
Scholarship and Grant Recipients
2025: Brandon Rogers, with the Sheet Metal Workers Local 7, was awarded an Apprentice Scholarship in Februrary.
2025: Dimitri Liske was awarded an Apprentice Scholarship in February. He is with the Sheet Metal Workers Local 7.
2024: Tyler Chantelois (L) of Westwood High School, pictured with MBE Board President Adam Saari, received a construction scholarship and accepted his award at the MBE annual meeting.
2024: Winners of the construction scholarship from Kingsford High School were (L-R) Noah Johnson, Eli Wallis, and McKenna Trulock.
2023: MBE Vice-President Adam Saari (L) presents a check for $2,000 to Alison Stehlik, Industrial Arts Instructor at Ironwood Area School to use towards the purchase of slip roller.
2023: MBE Board President Ryan Stern (L) presents a check for $1,000 to Kevin Brown, the Building Trades Instructor at the Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District CTE Center in Manistique. Funds were used to purchase a new miter saw.
2023: Ryan Stern, MBE Board President (L) presents a check for $2,000 to Robert Jayne, the Building Trades Instructor at the Dickinson-Iron ISD Tech Center in Kingsford. Funds were used to purchase a SawStop safety table saw.
2023: Adam Saari, MBE Board Vice-President (L) presents a check for $1,000 to Steve Menard, the Building Trades Instructor at the Delta-Schoolcraft ISD CTE Center in Escanaba. Funds were used to purchase a concrete mixing tub and tools so they could expand the block laying portion of their classes.
2022: Jamie Chandler being awarded an Apprentice Scholarship. Jamie is in the Local 111 Plumbers & Pipefitters Program.
2022: Trevor Salmon being awarded an Apprentice Scholarship by MBE Executive Director Jen Lammi. Trevor is in the Local 111 Plumbers & Pipefitters Program.
2022: Students in the building trades class at the Delta-Schoolcraft ISD in Escanaba pose on the mezzanine they built in their classroom to store tools and materials and free up valuable floor space. Funds for the project where donated MBE over two years. The students learned building skills the first year and how to install metal roofing and channel the second year.
2022: Sarah Wolenski, an apprentice with the Carpenters/Millwrights, was awarded one of the six 2022 Apprenticeship Scholarships Wolenski (left) is pictured with MBE Executive Director, Jen Lammi.
2021: Jacob Gentz accepting his $500 apprenticeship scholarship from Marquette Builders Exchange Executive Director, Jen Lammi. He is in the Carpenters & Millwrights Apprenticeship Program.
2021: Instructor Steve Menard of Delta-Schoolcraft ISD accepting a check from MBE Executive Director Jen Lammi for $2,000 for lumber to build a mezzanine for storing tools and supplies.
2021: Jacob Cogger, instructor at Superior Central School, with his high school construction class, accepting a check for $617 to purchase a miter saw for the classroom.
2020: Tony Retaski (L) and MBE Board President Ryan Stern (R), present John Krenek of Engadine Schools safety equipment and $1,560 for power tools.
Schools Funded:
- 2024 – Dickinson-Iron ISD in Kingsford – $950 for a laser level tripod kit
- 2024 – Superior Central Schools in Eben – $1,000 for class field trips to job sites & competitions
- 2024 – Delta-Schoolcraft ISD in Escanaba – $900 for a cordless nail gun an new levels
- 2024 – Ironwood Area Schools – $600 for a right angle die grinder and a tungsten grinder
- 2023 – Dickinson-Iron ISD in Kingsford – $2,000 to purchase a SawStop safety table saw
- 2023 – Delta-Schoolcraft ISD in Escanaba – $1,000 for concrete mixing tub & tools
- 2023 – Delta-Schoolcraft ISD in Manistique – $875 for a portable miter saw
- 2023 – Ironwood Area Schools – $2,000 for a manual slip roller
- 2022 – Gwinn Middle/High School – $1,000 towards Geometry in Construction teacher training
- 2022 – Delta-Schoolcraft ISD in Escanaba – $1,400 for metal roofing to complete the mezzanine
- 2022 – Superior Central School – $600 to purchase two cordless circular saws
- 2021 – Superior Central School – $617 to purchase a miter saw. See their thank you video!
- 2021 – Gwinn Middle/High School – $735 for drafting tables
- 2021 – Gwinn Elementary – $108 to purchase math books
- 2021 – Dickinson-Iron ISD in Kingsford – $629 to purchase a miter saw
- 2021 – Delta-Schoolcraft ISD in Escanaba – $2,000 for lumber to build a mezzanine for storage
- 2021 – Delta-Schoolcraft ISD in Manistique – $1050 for cordless nail guns
- 2020 – Engadine High School – $1,560 for carpentry tools, hands tools, power equipment, safety supplies
- 2019 -Republic High School – $1,000 for electrical improvements to the industrial arts classroom
- 2019 – Gwinn High School – $3,000 for lumber & supplies to build saunas in the building trades class
Past High School Scholarship Winners:
2025
Ruth Johnson, Superior Central School
Levi Stauber, Kingsford High School
Aubrey Phillips, Kingsford High School
2024
Tyler Chantelois, Westwood High School
Noah Eric Johnson, Kingsford High School
McKenna Marie Trulock, Kingsford High School
Eli Wallis, Kingsford High School
2023
Easton Palomaki, Negaunee High School
Lexi Vross, Kingsford High School
Tyler Willey, Ishpeming High School
2022
Nicholas Anderson, Luther L Wright K-12
Brenten Belanger, Negaunee High School
Connor Erickson, Kingsford High School
Jordana Hardy, Gwinn High School
Austin Jordan, Hancock Central High School
Jenna Olkkonen, Kingsford High School
Westen Owens, Iron Mountain High School
2021
Scott Pendergraft, Escanaba High School
Dante Basanese, Iron Mountain High School
Natalie Monette, Lake Linden-Hubbell School
Aiden Christianson, Rapid River High School
2020
Logan Chaudier, Negaunee High School
Drew DuShane, Negaunee High School
Heston Roberts, North Star Academy
Ryan Taylor, Manistique High School
Noah Weaver, Escanaba High School
2019
Austin Brewer, Westwood High School
Noah Jacko, Kingsford High School
Theo Kumpala, Negaunee High School
Thomas LaFave, Ishpeming High School
Jacob Maxon, Iron Mountain High School
Joseph Roell, North Dickinson County School
2018
Kyle Hupp, Chassell Township Schools
Gabriel Johnson, North Dickinson High School
Blaine Reinhart, Escanaba High School
Kalysta Sormunen, Marquette Alternative High School
2017
Austin Alexa, North Dickinson High School
Matthew Chard, Houghton High School
Heather Harris, Kingsford High School
Clayton Johnson, Escanaba High School
Levi Lindberg, Ewen-Trout Creek High School
Natasha Smith, Escanaba High School
2016
Daryn Carter, Marquette High School
Derek Carter, Marquette High School
Joe Ferzacca, Marquette High School
Tyler Rushford, Munising High School
2015
Andrew Heinonen, Westwood High School
Matthew Laiho, Westwood High School
Justin Beauchamp, Gwinn High School
Michael Remilong, Negaunee High School.
2014
Matthew Robert Anderson, Marquette High School
Cameron Verigin, Marquette High School
Samual Huron Lakenen, Marquette High School
Craig Ekstrum, Marquette High School
Haylee Lakenen, Gwinn High School
2013
Raymond Anderson, Westwood High School
Hunter Mahoski, Westwood High School
Dylan Dowrick, Marquette High School
2012
Andrew Jarvi, Republic-Michigamme High School
Zachary Niemi, Ishpeming High School
Laura Simula, Westwood High School
Danielle Vilona, Negaunee High School
2011
Dylan Etelamaki, Westwood High School
Rudy Goupille, Negaunee High School
Chad Laiho, Westwood High School
Kenneth Peterson, Ishpeming High School
Zachary Solka, Ishpeming High School
2010
Chase Elliot, Marquette High School
Samuel Genord, Ishpeming High School
James Rautio, Ishpeming High School
Devin Tapani, Negaunee High School
2009
Andrew Carlson, Ishpeming
Bradley St. Germain, Negaunee
Daniel VanAlstyne, Gwinn
2008
Travis Allen, Ishpeming
Matthew Barry, Republic-Michigamme
John Heikkila, Westwood
Kyle Kestila, Westwood
2007
Korin Blubaugh, Republic-Michigamme
Daniel Murray, Westwood
David Sutton, Marquette
Stephen Talaga, Negaunee
2006
Brian Bolm, Marquette
Steffanie Pepin, Westwood
Amy Ruona, Westwood
Jordon Skytta, Westwood
Eric Uuro, Ishpeming
Joshua Wiljanen, Westwood
2005
Timothy Barrette, Negaunee
Jon Betz, Marquette
Erin Feeley, Marquette
Alisa Minard, Westwood
2004
Bryce Hattamer, Gwinn
Emily Mantila, Westwood
Eric Sibley, Westwood
Nicholas Thompson, Negaunee
Ryan Ward, Negaunee
2003
John Bauman, Negaunee
Jacob Carlson, Westwood
Michael Jakubowski, Gwinn
2002
John Carstens, Marquette
Raquel Magdaleno, Gwinn
Paul J. Skoglund, Gwinn
2001
Brenna N. Barney, Gwinn
Andrew M. Buck, Ishpeming
Randy Makela, Marquette
Robert Noe, Gwinn
Eric J. Pietila, Gwinn
2000
Andrew Luehmann, Ishpeming
Adam Manty, Westwood
Jennifer Tapio, Republic-Michigamme
1999
Mark Anderson, Gwinn
Amanda Angeli, Marquette
Bruce A. Cram, Jr., Gwinn
Marguerite Ledebuhr, Gwinn
Joel Prusi, Republic-Michigamme
1998
Melissa Beltz, Gwinn
David Green, Gwinn
Anthony Parkinson, Republic-Michigamme
Benjamin Ranta, Ishpeming
Nicole Silva, Gwinn
1997
Lee Ahola, Westwood
Brian Frustaglio, Negaunee
Travis Hongisto, Westwood
John Larson, Negaunee
Trever Nicholas, Ishpeming
1996
Joseph J. Eppert, Republic-Michigamme
Karl Haapala, Westwood
Jeff Gregorich, Marquette
Gabriel J. Seelen, Ishpeming
1995
Cory Bushong, Westwood
Johanna Kasubowski, Westwood
Andrew Kotila, Negaunee
Aaron Oja, Republic-Michigamme
Todd Wills, Gwinn
Let us know if you were a recipient of a scholarship before 1995!
Past Apprenticeship Scholarship Winners:
2025
Brandon Rogers, Sheet Metal Workers
Dimitri Liske, Sheet Metal Workers
2024
Alexander Dobbs, Sheet Metal Workers
Ty Miron, Sheet Metal Workers
John O’Connor, Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers
Donny Schultz, Plumbers & Pipefitters
Thomas John Seablom, Jr., Plumbers & Pipefitters
2023
David Bivins, Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers
2022
Sarah Wolenski, Carpenters & Millwrights
Jersie Skrzniarz, Electricians
Trevor Salmon, Plumbers & Pipefitters
Jamie Chandler, Plumbers & Pipefitters
Jason Palomaki, Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers
Dylan Scott Trudell, Electricians
2021
Noah Brooks, Sheet Metal Workers
Justin Lindsay, Carpenters & Millwrights
Michael Tyner, Carpenters & Millwrights
Jacob Gentz, Carpenters & Millwrights
