During the 2018 PCCA Convention, the PCCA Education & Research Foundation announced the recipients of its 2018-2019 scholarships: Oscar Zapien Maynez of Norman, Okla., Garrett Vincent of Paoli, Ind., and Emma Syverson of Menomonee Falls, Wis. PCCA received 43 applications representing 15 member companies this year, and the winners were selected by a committee of PCCA past presidents.
The PCCA Foundation currently provides up to three scholarships of $2,500 per year for children and grandchildren of PCCA members and their employees. Students selected as scholarship recipients can receive up to $10,000 (for those attending a four-year school) or $5,000 (for those attending a two-year program).
Oscar Zapien Maynez
This Year’s Winners
Oscar Zapien Maynez (Henkels & McCoy) studies Industrial & Systems Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. “The field embodies everything that I am passionate about: reliability and improvement,” he said. “It represents the way I live my life, as I constantly want to improve myself not only as a student, but also as a person.
The coursework associated with the field is sensational as it gives us students the science of how companies operate behind the scenes, from how they get our attention with their product tohow they keep us as customers.”
“A scholarship is a way for me to alleviate my parents with some of the financial burdens that come with getting a college education, as they have sacrificed so much for me to be in the position that I am today,” he said. “A scholarship allows me to showcase my talents in the classroom in order to make my parents proud of what I am capable of accomplishing, but most importantly to let them know that their sacrifices were worth it in the end.”
Emma SyversonA standout student at Menomonee Falls High School in Wisconsin, Emma Syverson (Vermeer Wisconsin) will study Civil Engineering in college. “I loved to build and create things as a child and figure out how things work and how to put them together,” she said. “As a junior, I took an engineering-specific course through our STEM academy. I took Civil Engineering and Architecture and found that I really enjoyed it. We designed a Habitat for Humanity house and a field house for our high school through Revit. I decided that this is what I want to do with my future.”
“I heard about this scholarship through my dad, who works at Vermeer Wisconsin, and I was eager to start working on it,” she said. “This scholarship would help me achieve my 2nd Quarter 2018 academ ic goals by allowing me to attend the School of Science and Engineering at University of Minnesota Twin Cities without having to work full-time while being a full-time student.”
Garrett Vincent (ElectriCom) plans to study Chemistry next year at Indiana University. “My whole family, from my mom and dad to my grandparents to my aunts and uncles, has been there with me and kept me motivated in everything I do,” he said. 
Garrett Vincent
“They motivate me to be a successful person because all of my family is exactly that. I have, in my family, countless hard-working, successful members of society who have always driven me and my sister to strive for perfection in everything we do. Not only do they motivate me because of the success they have already achieved, but also because of the pressure I put on myself to not disappoint them.”
“From the time I was very young, I have always wanted to help others,” he said. “Being a helping hand to those who are in need has always been a big emphasis in my life.”
Next Year’s Scholarships
Scholarship applications will be accepted for the 2019-2020 academic year beginning December 1.
The PCCA Scholarship Committee tasked with overseeing the selection process is comprised of association past presidents and meets every year at the convention. Information about the program and eligibility is available at www.pccaerf. org or by emailing
The foundation will be publicizing the availability of the scholarship program in an attempt to encourage greater ongoing participation by students interested in a construction industry career by sending announcements to two- and four-year colleges as well as vocational schools around the country.