Crafton Tull is now helping students to plot their path into the field of surveying at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton (UACCM) through a newly established student scholarship.
UACCM is a leader in producing qualified surveyors, including a total of 26 UACCM graduates at Crafton Tull. With that in mind, Crafton Tull recently established a $2,000 scholarship to be given annually to students studying surveying at the school.
“Our company has a long-standing relationship with UACCM,” said CEO Matt Crafton. “We know the survey teachers at UACCM offer great instruction to the students there, so it was an easy decision for Crafton Tull to support the program.”
Courtesy UACCM - Matthew Emery
Several of Crafton Tull’s UACCM alumni were on hand for the ceremonial signing of the scholarship check in early August. Although they all had different paths to UACCM, they share the same sense of pride to be a part of this new opportunity for students interested in surveying.
Survey Project Manager Team Lead Logan Killer, P.S. said this scholarship could pave the way for students to enter the surveying profession who might face financial burdens. Killer received the John Shields Scholarship from The Arkansas Society of Professional Surveyors (ASPS) while in school at UACCM, and he said that support meant a great deal to him.
“It's incredibly rewarding to see Crafton Tull investing in the same program that launched my career. Knowing that future UACCM students will have additional support makes me proud to be both an alumnus and part of an employee-owned firm that values the next generation of surveyors.”
Logan Killer, Survey Project Manager Team Lead
Crafton Tull
Pursuing a degree in surveying is an opportunity to combine interests with knowledge, which is exactly what Executive Vice President of Energy Services Lane Housley, P.S., did when he chose to pursue surveying at UACCM.
The program allowed him to combine his love of the outdoors with his knowledge of the excavation industry, but just as impactful was that the convenience of being close to home allowed him to continue to work while in school, which can be a big factor for college students.
“With today’s economic situation this scholarship could mean the difference between someone getting an education or having to enter the workforce and struggle without an education,” Housley said.
UACCM surveying students learn to operate surveying equipment and cover procedures and computations involved in boundary, route and construction surveys, as well as preparing legal documents, plats, maps, and reports. These fundamentals allow students to enter the workforce with confidence.
Senior Vice President of Energy Services Brandon Resecker, P.S. said this scholarship has the potential to make it easier for students to take the first step into surveying, which will ultimately help grow the surveying profession in Arkansas, which is something he said is certainly needed.
“I know how valuable that kind of help can be when you’re just getting started, and it’s exciting to see opportunities opening up for the next group of surveyors,” Resecker said. “Sometimes just having that extra bit of support is what makes the difference.”
Vice President of Survey Jonathan Hamner, P.S., said this scholarship holds a personal meaning for him as an alumnus but he also sees this as a big step for Crafton Tull cementing its place as a leading surveying company in Arkansas with the future generation of surveyors.
“To someone, it may mean the difference in continuing with an education in surveying and their future profession,” Hamner said. “Regardless of where they work, Crafton Tull will always mean a great deal to them.”
To apply for licensure in Arkansas as a Survey Intern or a Professional Surveyor, a degree is required, but that hasn’t always been the case. Vice President of Survey Jeremy Lawson, P.S., CFedS, had already worked as a surveyor for nearly a decade before enrolling at UACCM. As a seasoned surveyor, he found that there was more to learn and graduated with the same admiration for the program as many who entered with no experience at all.
“UACCM provided an accessible and high-end pathway to achieve my professional goals, making it an excellent choice for someone like me looking to advance in the field. The curriculum was well-structured, covering both technical skills and theoretical concepts that are critical in the field.”
Jeremy Lawson, Vice President of Survey
Crafton Tull
The scholarship is split into $1,000 scholarships in the fall and spring semesters. The scholarship is exclusive to UACCM surveying students who meet a GPA of at least 3.0 and is based on financial need, as well as faculty and staff recommendations.
UACCM Development Officer Lauren Bryan said the scholarship will help to shape the surveying profession well into the future.
"UACCM is so thankful to Matt Crafton and Crafton Tull for establishing this scholarship that will impact UACCM surveying students for many years to come,” Bryan said.
STORY BY WENDY JORDAN - MARKETING MANAGER
