Home Builders Care awards scholarships to neighboring students

Over the course of the last few months, Home Builders Care has awarded $5,000 in scholarship funds to area high school students and graduates. High school students planning to enroll in residential construction trades or a related field at Minnesota State Community and Technical College or North Dakota State College of Science are eligible for these scholarship opportunities. They must provide proof of enrollment within 18 months of graduation. 

This year's high school scholarship recipients include the following individuals:

• Cameron Akers, Pelican Rapids M.N., awarded $1,000
• Gabrielle Pritchard, West Fargo, N.D., awarded $1,000 
• Kaiden Spieker, West Fargo, N.D., awarded $2,000
• Grace Visser, Ada, M.N., awarded $1,000

Above: Cameron Akers with Home Builders Care President Trevor Odden, Stone Ridge Builders

Akers graduated in May 2024 from Detroit Lakes High School. He has been accepted into the North Dakota State College of Science's architectural modeling and design program for the upcoming fall semester. He is the son of Peggy and Lance Akers. 

Above: Gabrielle Pritchard with Home Builders Care President Trevor Odden, Stone Ridge Builders

Pritchard will be a senior at West Fargo Sheyenne High School in the fall of 2024. She plants to attend a local college and major in either architectural engineering, architectural drafting, or construction management and minor in carpentry. She is the daughter of Dawn and Allen Pritchard. 

The Herdina Construction Trades Camp is a two-week program for high school students held each June at M State. Students get hands-on experience and classroom instruction in a variety of specialty occupations within the residential and commercial construction industry.

Above: Kaiden Spieker 

Spieker graduated in May 2024 from West Fargo High School. He plans to attend M State – Moorhead this fall and pursue degrees in construction management and applied science. He is the son of Kristina and Shane Spieker. Additionally, Spieker was the recipient of two scholarships, one being the distinctive John Gunkelman Scholarship. 

The John Gunkelman Scholarship is awarded annually to one outstanding high school senior graduate headed to North Dakota State College of Science or M State to pursue a trades career. The recipient is selected partly for their community service work since that has been important to Gunkelman throughout his life. Gunkelman is a long-time builder in the Fargo-Moorhead and lakes area. He is a past president of both the BIA-RRV and Home Builders Care and served in countless state and national leadership roles over the years. His volunteerism in the community and to his industry is unmatched.

Above: Grace Visser 

Visser graduated in May 2024 from Ada-Borup-West High School. She plans to attend NDSCS this fall and pursue a degree in civil engineering and land surveying technology. She is the daughter of Dana and Gary Visser. 

To learn more about Home Builders Care scholarship opportunities, click here.