Albert E. Phillips Scholarship
Supporting education in the design and construction industry.
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:
- A relative of an employee of a COAA Member
- An employee of a COAA Member Organization, or
- 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.
2016 recipient - Ahmed Zakira
(New York University)
(The Pennsylvania State University)
(University of Houston)