[VIDEO] Winterboro High School junior named ‘Go Build Alabama Student of the Month’

SYCAMORE, Ala. – Go Build Alabama, an initiative of the Alabama Construction Recruitment Institute (ACRI), has named Matthew Beam the February recipient of the 2019 Go Build Alabama Student of the Month scholarship award.

Beam is currently dual enrolled at Central Alabama State Community College with a concentration in welding. He is already on track to receive his Welding Certificate and plans to earn an associate degree with the goal of one day working for CSX Transportation on railroads. His great grandfather worked for the company, and he would like to follow in his footsteps.

“My favorite project, so far, was for my high school’s basketball team,” Beam said. “The tee they use was broken, and I was able to weld it back together for them. I was proud to be able to give
back to my school.”

Beam is an active member of the Senior Beta Club. When he is not at school, Beam enjoys working, welding, fishing and spending time with family. Go Build Alabama’s Student of the Month scholarship is given to one high school junior or senior every month during the school year by the ACRI. It is designed to support students who pursue careers in the construction industry, a field that offers a wide variety of rewarding career paths.

Video Courtesy Big Communications/ACRI

Upon graduation, recipients will each receive a $1,000 scholarship to continue their education at an Alabama institution of higher education. Scholarships are made possible through proceeds from the Big Dog Poker Run, an annual motorcycle benefit ride organized by CraneWorks and Garrison Steel.

Teachers, principals, and other school personnel are encouraged to nominate students for our monthly Go Build Alabama Student of the Month award. To be eligible, students must be high
school juniors or seniors with a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in construction. They must also be enrolled in, or have been enrolled in, technical courses related to the skilled trades, or have plans to continue their education in the construction industry after graduating high
school.

About Go Build Alabama: ACRI launched the Go Build campaign in August of 2010 in effort to prepare for the anticipated shortage as older tradesmen leave the workforce. One third of all skilled tradesmen in the construction industry are over the age of 50. With their retirement on the horizon, training programs are not producing enough young workers to replace those exiting the industry. The Go Build campaign aims to recruit the next generation of skilled construction trade workers. Visit GoBuildAlabama.com for more.