NAC Scholarship Application Information - January 2026

The National Academy of Construction Scholarship

• Members of the National Academy of Construction (NAC) established this scholarship to provide funding for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in construction or a closely related field and who intend to pursue a career in the construction industry.
• NAC’s mission is to recognize and honor individuals from all disciplines in the industry for their distinguished contributions to the industry and to share this reservoir of expertise as a service to the nation, including service contributions. It is one of the nation’s esteemed construction industry institutions, characterized by its extensive and diverse expertise, proven leadership, and trusted judgment.
• NAC is committed to diversity and inclusiveness in the construction industry. The intent of this scholarship is to provide financial support for two semesters for deserving students who plan to pursue careers in the construction industry, thus giving back to the profession some of the benefits that its members have received.
• NAC anticipates giving out at least $60,000 in scholarships this year with a minimum award amount for each scholarship of $7,500.
• Since the scholarship program’s inception in 2020, NAC has awarded 36 scholarships worth over $203,000 to students from across the country.

Application Process:

• Only one applicant is permitted from each university. There are no exceptions to this requirement. If more than one application is received from a university, the university will be notified and asked to choose one applicant.
• The application portal opens on January 26, 2026, and closes on March 24, 2026.
• Relatives of members of the National Academy of Construction officers and members of the Scholarship Committee are not eligible for this scholarship.
• Applicants must complete the application form and provide the following during the application process – all files uploaded must be in pdf format:
  • A one-to-two-page, double spaced, application statement.
  • A minimum of two letters of support are required per applicant—one letter from faculty or administration at the applicant’s university and one from a NAC member (cannot be the same person). Note: The letter from the applicant’s university must confirm that the applicant meets the scholarship eligibility criteria AND no letters of support will be accepted from the NAC Scholarship Committee members..
  • Unofficial transcript(s) with grades for courses completed, cumulative GPA and courses enrolled in current semester. MS students should upload a copy of their undergraduate transcript and graduate transcript (to date).
• Applicants will be evaluated by the committee after the application period ends, and finalists will be required to submit a 2-minute recorded response to a prompt from the Scholarship Committee. Awards will be announced in early May.
• Expected scholarship amount for 2026 recipients is $7,500 or higher.
• Scholarship recipients will be invited to attend the NAC Annual Meeting from September 25-27 in Nashville, TN. NAC will cover registration for this event and work with the recipients, their universities and others to identify sources of funding to cover travel expenses to attend. Attendance at the Annual Meeting is not required.

Eligibility for Consideration:

A student must:

1. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, including both undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework, from an accredited university.
2. Be at least at the sophomore level with at least two semesters remaining in their curricula at the time of application (B.S. students) or at least two semesters remaining at the time of application (M.S. students).
3. Be at least at the junior level at the time of scholarship award (Fall 2026).
4. Be pursuing a degree in a construction or construction-related program such as construction management, architecture, civil engineering, or other related disciplines, from a four-year degree-granting, accredited institution of higher education, with the intent of pursuing a career in the construction industry.
5. Be a U.S. or Canadian citizen; and,
6. Not have received a NAC scholarship in the past.

Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated through their actions that they are working to advance the construction industry and become future leaders; actions such as:

1. Leadership in student clubs;
2. Participation in extracurricular activities such as the ACE Mentors program, Habitat for Humanity, Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Engineers in Action, or other construction-focused activities;
3. Mentoring of other students in construction industry-focused activities;
4. Evidence of internships, co-ops, or employment in the construction industry or construction industry-focused research;
5. That they have overcome unique personal challenges that reflect their commitment to education, excellence and the construction profession.  Examples of such circumstances could include that they are the first person in the family to get a four-year college degree, evidence of overcoming hardships and/or that they are from non-traditional backgrounds or circumstances.

NAC Scholarship Committee: Mike Garvin (Chair), Andy Ciancia (Vice Chair), Wayne Crew, Anne Ellis, Evelyn Fujimoto, Tim Green, Mark Hastak, Pat Natale, Mike Rigsby, Sarah Slaughter, Jill Tietjen, Kirankumar Topudurti, Hans Van Winkle, Dan Whiteman, Edd Gibson (Ex-Officio), Sandy Pittman (Administration)

 

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