Congrats Are in Order: NUCA Announces 2020 Scholarship Program Winners in Florida and Nebraska
The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) is pleased to announce the winners of the NUCA Foundation for Education and Research 2020 scholarships.
These scholarships are eligible to high school seniors whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a NUCA member company. Selections were based on the application submitted by a panel of judges chosen from NUCA membership by the NUCA Scholarship Committee.
The three scholarships awarded are:
D.A. Foster Memorial Scholarship: Emily Lyssenko, Coral Springs, Fla.
Emily Lyssenko is the 2020 recipient of the NUCA Scholarship Foundation’s D.A. Foster Memorial Scholarship. Emily graduated from J.P. Taravella High School, located in Coral Springs, Florida, at the top of her class. Through high school she was heavily involved with the Speech and Debate team, competing across Florida in both regional and national-circuit tournaments. She served as team President and Speech Captain during her senior year. Emily also founded an official UNICEF Club chapter at her school which brought students together in order to fundraise and advocate for humanitarian aid programs across the globe.
During the summer following her junior year, Emily also completed an internship at Coral Springs City Hall, working for the city’s Human Resources department and gaining hands-on experience with different facets of municipal government. She will be attending the University of Florida as a member of the honors college program, studying international relations and economics with the intent of becoming a foreign service officer one day. Emily is the daughter of Aimee and Ilia Lyssenko and is representing NUCA member company, Giannetti Contracting Corp., in Pompano Beach, Fla.
NUCA Four-Year Scholarship: Isaias Martinez, Riverview, Fla.
Isaias Martinez is the recipient of NUCA’s Four Year Scholarship. He attended Spoto High School in Riverview, Florida, where he graduated second in his class with a 7.2 GPA. Throughout those four years, Isaias took part in various clubs including the math club, science club, and National Honor Society. He completed over 300 hours of volunteer work in Shriners Hospital for Children and Brandon Regional Hospital, while also taking part in his school’s marching band and wind ensemble as the principal trumpet.
During his senior year, Isaias was already fully enrolled in the University of South Florida (USF) as an early admit and remained in his high school solely for band class so that he could perform with his peers one last year. Isaias now remains at USF where he has plans to earn a B.S in Biomedical Sciences and a B.A in Music Studies, and then continue his education in medical school in order to become a cardiac surgeon. Outside of his professional pursuits, Isaias also plans on playing gigs with jazz bands or community orchestras for the rest of his life. His parents are Maria Samano and Rolando Martinez. Isaias is representing NUCA member company RIPA & Associates, a construction firm headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
William & Shirley Burgett Scholarship: Caitlin Murphy, Exeter, Neb.
Caitlin Murphy is the recipient of the William & Shirley Burgett Scholarship. Caitlin graduated from Exeter-Milligan High School in Exeter, Neb., where she was involved in music, speech, softball, National Honor Society, quiz bowl, and student council. She was selected as a four-year member of the Nebraska All-State Band. As a junior, Caitlin was a recipient of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Young Artist Award. She was heavily involved in Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and served as Nebraska’s Vice President of Competitive Events during her senior year.
Caitlin worked as a part-time accounting assistant at Horizontal Boring & Tunneling Co. during her junior and senior years. She is continuing her education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she plans to pursue degrees in actuarial science and mathematics. Caitlin is the daughter of Brian and Angie Murphy, and represents NUCA member Horizontal Boring & Tunneling Co., in Exeter, Neb.
More information about NUCA’s 2020 scholarship winners and photos can be found online at www.nuca.com/2020scholarships.
