For the fifth year in a row, students from the Bridgehampton, Hampton Bays, Southampton and Westhampton Beach school districts who are enrolled in Eastern Suffolk BOCES career and technical education programs were presented with scholarships from the Southampton Business Alliance.
The scholarships will help defray the out-of-pocket cost of tools and other gear the students are required to supply for their future studies in the building trades, specifically carpentry, HVAC, plumbing and heating, and electrical.
This year, the 20 junior and senior students were awarded an average of $275 each. Since the inception of the scholarship in 2019, $33,835 has been awarded to 114 students with a goal to help build a pipeline of skilled workers on the East End of Long Island.
The Southampton Business Alliance is a local advocacy group, representing the interests of Town of Southampton businesses for over 30 years. “What better way to help local businesses then by directly addressing the workforce crisis in our Township through supporting BOCES students as they learn the essential trades our membership is looking to hire. Knowing that in some instances this scholarship means the difference between being able to join the programs or not makes it even more important to support these students and their families,” said Sheryl Heather, Business Alliance Executive Director.
Date Added: 10/31/2023