CCDI - Construction Career Development Initiative

As we continue our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship spotlight series, we are excited to recognize Sophia Luraschi. Sophia is a recent graduate of Pattonville High School, where she excelled both inside and outside the classroom, earning an impressive 4.1 GPA. Throughout high school, she was actively involved in National Honor Society, Student Council, LINK Crew, Millstone Weber's Project PAVE program, CCDI, and multiple sports, demonstrating leadership, commitment, and a passion for serving her school community.

This fall, Sophia will attend Missouri Baptist University, where she will continue her soccer career while participating in a dual degree program with the University of Central Missouri. She plans to earn a bachelor's degree in Construction Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship, with the goal of becoming a Project Manager.

Sophia's journey is already off to an exciting start. This summer, she was selected as one of our high school interns and earned a coveted spot with S. M. Wilson & Co - Construction Managers. Through support from the American Family Dreams Foundation Grant, CCDI is helping fund her summer internship experience.

What makes this opportunity even more special is that Sophia will be working on S.M. Wilson's Pattonville Heights Middle School project, the very middle school she attended as a student. Few people get the chance to contribute to a project that has such a personal connection to their own educational journey.

It is a true full-circle moment and a perfect example of how workforce development programs can connect students to meaningful career opportunities right in their own communities. Congratulations, Sophia. We are proud to support you as part of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship class and cannot wait to see where your talent, leadership, and determination take you next.

Today’s 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship spotlight is Trades recipient, Morgan Wilbret. Morgan is a dual enrolled senior at Hazelwood Central High School and North Tech, where he is part of the HVAC program. Over the past two years, Morgan has been an active participant in the CCDI program and has consistently taken advantage of opportunities to grow through our Saturday Academies and industry engagement experiences.

Morgan’s passion for working with his hands and solving problems led him to explore several skilled trades before discovering his future in HVAC. In his scholarship essay, he shared how his experiences at North Tech helped shape his direction and confidence for the future: “Everything is hard before it is easy. North Tech taught me that hard work, hands-on learning, and determination can turn goals into reality.”

Morgan’s instructors and mentors describe him as a student who leads by example and brings people together. His HVAC instructor, Matt Adams, wrote in a letter of recommendation: “Morgan has demonstrated a level of dedication that is rare. He is a student who approaches every lesson with an eagerness to learn. Beyond his technical aptitude, Morgan is a natural leader and a team player. He has a unique ability to bring his classmates together.”

This fall, Morgan plans to continue his technical training at American Trade School, where he will pursue advanced HVAC certifications and continue building toward a successful career in the skilled trades industry. We are excited to support Morgan as part of our 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship class and cannot wait to see where his drive and work ethic take him next.

Today’s 2026 Build Our Future Scholarship spotlight is Christi Dyer. Christi is a dual enrolled student at Pattonville High School and North Tech, where she is part of the electrical program. She has excelled both academically and technically throughout high school, earning an impressive 4.2 GPA and scoring a 30 on the ACT.

As the oldest of her siblings, Christi leads by example in every area of her life. She is deeply involved in her church community, dedicates countless hours to volunteer work, and remains active in dance and theater. Over the past two years, Christi has also been an engaged member of the CCDI program, regularly participating in Saturday Academies and taking advantage of every opportunity to grow professionally and personally.

Her hard work and leadership were recently recognized when she earned the distinction of “Tops of Tech,” the highest honor awarded to a North Tech student by her electrical instructor, Mr. Merritt. In his letter of recommendation, he wrote: “Christi is a natural leader, a critical thinker and a student who takes pride in producing high-quality work. Her ability to analyze problems and apply technical knowledge sets her apart from her peers.”

Christi plans to attend Missouri S&T, where she will pursue a degree in Architectural Engineering. Before beginning college, she will spend a year serving her church through missionary work, an experience that reflects her commitment to faith, service, and leadership. We are excited to see the experiences and perspective Christi will gain during this next chapter and know she has an incredibly bright future ahead in the construction industry.

Please join us in congratulating Christi on her outstanding accomplishments. We are incredibly proud of you, Christi!