CCEE senior Matthew Mottesheard is among seven students who were selected for academic scholarships from the National Academy of Construction (NAC) by the NAC Scholarship Committee.
“The Academy scholarships are one of the most important investments we can make,” said Wayne Crew, NAC president and CEO. “The students get the support they need, and the industry sees better prepared entry-level participants who are eager to contribute.”
The scholarships provide funding for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering or construction, or a closely related field, and who desire a career in the industry. Applicants must be juniors or above, have a high GPA, are advancing toward a degree in construction or a construction-related program, and demonstrate exceptional leadership as well as participate in extracurricular activities.
Mottesheard and the other award recipients will be recognized at the NAC Gala in Scottsdale, Arizona, in October.
“I feel very honored that my hard work and dedication to my studies have been recognized by such a prestigious academy,” Mottesheard said. “I’m grateful for the experiences and opportunities through the CCEE Department and College of Engineering, such as the co-op program and other student organizations that have set me up for success in my future career.”
Mottesheard, who is studying construction engineering, said that from a young age, he has had an an interest in the construction process and enjoyed watching buildings being created from the ground up.
“My initial career goal was to become an architect,” Mottesheard said. “In high school I realized I enjoyed the combination of math and problem solving much more than creative design, so I decided to pursue engineering. Once I was at NC State, it wasn’t until E102 during freshman year that I found out about Construction Engineering through our unit looking at the CCEE Department. I realized that Construction Engineering combined all the aspects I enjoyed — design, analysis, mathematical calculations and high-level problem solving. By receiving a degree in Construction Engineering, the opportunities are endless within the construction process, from design to pre-construction to project delivery.”
Mottesheard has maintained a 4.0 GPA while participating in both the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapter as its public relations chair and in the academic chapter of the Construction Alliance, which consists of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Mottesheard also leads NC State’s marching band trombone section and is a member of the pep band. He serves as a University Ambassador, giving weekly tours of the NC State campus, and is a member of the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society and Chi Epsilon International, the Civil Engineering Honor Society. His current four-rotation co-op experience at Birmingham, Alabama-based Brasfield & Gorrie has enabled him to work with different supervisors, giving him insight into the industry’s professional aspects. He aspires to be a project manager and work in senior leadership roles. His ultimate goal is to own his own nationally recognized company.