This week, 2011 grants to MCAA student chapters and to contractor members who hire student interns are being issued.  Funded by the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation's (MCERF) Funding Educational Excellence Initiative (FEE), the grants help support the MCAA Career Development program's mission, which is to attract well-qualified future professionals to our industry. Earlier this summer, the Career Development Committee approved 10 Chapter of Excellence Grants to MCAA/MSCA student chapters at: California State University at Sacramento, Ferris State University; Illinois State University, Kent State University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Pittsburg State University, Purdue University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Washington and the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Emerging Chapter Grants went to student chapters at Kansas State University, Oregon State University, Pennsylvania State University and the Wentworth Institute of Technology. Half those funds must be used for student scholarships. The remaining funds are to help support chapter projects and travel to the Student Chapter Summit and the MCAA 2012 convention.  The committee also approved 76 Student Internship Grants (each $1,200) for MCAA contractor members who hire students as interns. (For a complete listing of grantees, please go to www.mcaa.org/careers.)  All of the grants, but especially the Student Internship Grants, bring the students into closer contact with contractors and the industry in action.  The students learn more about our industry, the business of contracting, mechanical systems and professional skills at the convention, at the Student Chapter Summit, on the job and by participating in local field trips to project sites and local association sponsor membership events.

For more information about the Career Development program, please contact Ann Mattheis at amattheis@mcaa.org.