Albert E. Phillips Scholarship

The Albert E. Phillips Scholarship honors COAA's founder and general counsel for the organization's first 13 years.  Acknowledging that education is a critical part of strengthening our industry, COAA is proud to offer up to two (2) $3,000 Phillips Scholarships each year to college students pursuing a degree in the design and construction industry. 

The winner (s) are announced at the COAA Connect spring conference in May. Recipients who elect to attend receive a complimentary conference registration, hotel accommodations, and airfare to and from the event.

Eligible Students must be either:

  1. A relative of an employee of a COAA Member
  2. An employee of a COAA Member Organization, or
  3. A full-time student at a COAA member institution of higher education

Phillips scholarships are intended for full-time undergraduate students who have successfully completed their freshman year. Applicants should have a minimum 2.5-grade point average on a 4.0 scale. A current copy of the student transcript is required.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit:

  • Scholarship Application (below)
  • Essay of 1,000 words or less on one of the following topics:
    • What attracted you to construction and what are your career plans in the industry?
    • What do you find to be the most critical issue facing the construction industry and why?
  • Two letters of recommendation:
    • Our preference is for one of the recommendation letters to come from a COAA member who knows you and your work well.
    • If a COAA member is unavailable, professors, teaching assistants, and internship supervisors are acceptable.

A team of appointed COAA volunteers will review the applications, weigh the relative merit of each, and determine collaboratively which applicants are most worthy of a scholarship.

These guidelines will be reviewed and adhered to ensure a fair, unbiased process.

  • All members of the Selection Team shall be members of COAA in good standing
  • The composition of the Selection Team should reflect the diversity of COAA in terms of professional role and other characteristics
  • Immediately following the closing of the Scholarship application deadline, the team will review applications based on established and approved guidelines
  • Team members shall recuse themselves from reviewing applications that present a clear conflict of interest
  • Immediately following the closing of the Scholarship application deadline, the team will review applications based on established and approved guidelines
  • Team members shall participate in virtual meetings or conference calls as needed to reach consensus decisions
  • Team members should make every effort to attend the Scholarship Luncheon at COAA Connect 
  • The Selection Team may not enter into legal or binding agreements on behalf of COAA and has no authority over COAA resources or staff
Year Winner Name School
2024 Catherine Caputo Virginia Technical University
2024 Katherine Benhart Pudue University
2023 Natalie Branand University of Georgia
2023 Zachary Merritt Michigan State University
2022 Brendon Little Pennsylvania State University
2022 Irma Torres Texas A&M
2021 Thomas Crawford Kennesaw State University
2021 Mackenzie Zabel University of Michigan
2020 Makaela Bigley Pennsylvania State University
2019 Hunter VanSchoubroek Texas A&M
2019 Dalton Southard Purdue University
2018 Joseph Cox Kennesaw State University
2018 Ashton Politz Santa Clara University
2017 Curtis Lucas University of Houston
2017 Saul Lopez Texas A&M
2016 Ahmed Zakira New York University
2016 Curtis Lucas University of Houston
2015 Eric Luttman Pennsylvania State University
2015 Christopher Lokey University of Nebraska
2014 Ted Gaylon Kilcrease University of Arkansas
2014 Rachel Sommer Pennsylvania State University
2013 Aaron Elston Iowa State University
2013 Cody Slack Pennsylvania State University
2012 Jace Christensen Iowa State University
2012 Pauline Sipin Montgomery College
2011 Catlin Behm Pennsylvania State University
2010 David Warning Iowa State University
2009 Kate Austin University of Georgia
2009 Derek Leonard Pennsylvania College of Technology
2008 Brian Beckman Purdue University
2008 Sarah Pachota Michigan State University

Applications are due by March 1. 

(Left to Right)
2016 recipient - Ahmed Zakira
(New York University)
2014 recipient - Rachel Sommer
(The Pennsylvania State University)
2016 recipient - Curtis Lucas 
(University of Houston)