The Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area presented scholarships to area students at their General Membership Meeting held on Monday, May 11, 2009 at Gio's Trattoria Grille in Kalkaska.  Support of trades and continuing education has been a long standing tradition of the Home Builders Association.  
  
The scholarships granted came from the Home Builders Association Educational Scholarship which was funded by a grant of nearly $30,000 made to the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation in 1994.  Since then, interest from the fund and additional fundraising activities have provided nearly $20,000 in additional student scholarships.
 
This year, a total of $1,700 was given to two student scholars.  This investment affords the Association an opportunity to give back to their community, as well as establishes their support of an educated workforce along with the aspirations of the individual recipients who aspire to careers related to the building industry.  This year's recipients of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation scholarship  include:  Scott Ponstein and Joe Courtade both of Williamsburg. 

 

A graduate of Kalkaska Public Schools, Scott is currently a Construction Management Major at Ferris State University. Upon completion of his senior year, he plans to work in the constuction industry in the Traverse Bay area.

 

Joe Courtade is a senior at Elk Rapids High School.  He plans to attend Grand Valley State University in the fall with a major in Pre-Law and Public Administration.

 

Support of trades and continuing education has been a long standing tradition of the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc. Over the past twenty-three years the Association has contributed nearly a quarter of a million dollars to support educational programs and opportunities in our region.
 
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The Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc., chartered in 1970, is a professional trade association encompassing the Michigan counties of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau, whose members are licensed, where applicable, for the purpose of constructing quality housing, providing associated services and utilizing progressive technologies.  The Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc. is an affiliate of the Michigan Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Home Builders.

 

Mission Statement
 
We are a professional association of industry leaders who are committed to excellence through our support of legislative, educational, and economic initiatives to promote home ownership in our community.
 
"COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE"