WAYNE, N.J. — As part of its continued efforts to invest in America and in the roofing industry, GAF has awarded 22 recipients $5,000 each as part of the GAF Roofing Scholarship Program. The program was created to encourage and reward undergraduate students for enrolling in a college program that demonstrates an interest in continuing toward a career that involves the roofing or building industry.

With an application period between Jan. 14 and April 29, 2013, applicants were required to meet certain criteria, including being:

• An owner or the child of an owner of a Master Select™ or Master GAF Commercial Roofing Contractor in good standing

• A full-time employee or the child of a full-time employee of a Master Select™ or Master GAF Commercial Roofing Contractor in good standing

• A U.S. citizen or legal resident

• A high school graduate or current postsecondary undergraduate

Preference was given to applicants pursuing an undergraduate field of study that could lead to either employment in, or an acquiring of knowledge that would be beneficial to, the building industry. Applicants needed to be enrolled at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire 2013-2014 academic year. They were asked to write essays that not only demonstrated their interest in roofing, but also explained why they are pursuing a major that is applicable to the building industry.

Winners of the scholarship included: Shanon Barth of Barth Roofing Company Inc. in California; Brynne Becker of DDP Roofing Services Inc. in Pennsylvania; Brittany Beldon of Beldon Roofing Company in Texas; Jordan Benesh of Tecta America Arizona in Arizona; Zachary Buckner of Blackmore & Buckner Roofing in Indiana; Jordan Gwyn of Triad Roofing Company Inc. in North Carolina; Bryna Hanley of Complete Roofing Services Inc. in Mississippi; Ashlyn Howes of Sierra Single Ply Inc. in California; Kaitlyn Kidwell of All Surface Roofing in Washington; Elizabeth Lemirande of Northern Metal and Roofing Inc. in Wisconsin; Stephen Lyons of Stuart Lyons Roofing Inc. in Florida; John Martone of L. Martone & Sons Inc. in New York; Jordan Meador of Miller Roofing Inc. in Virginia; Kendall Newell of Lido Holdings Inc. in Florida; Matthew Pansera of Nations Roof of Illinois in Illinois; Ashley Peters of Vance and Associates Roofing in California; Taylor Stark of Tecta America Zero Company in Kentucky; Sidonia Rose Swarm of RoofingSource in Illinois; Kelly Tanner of Elite Roofing Services Inc. in Florida; Caroline Yorgason of American Roofing in Utah; and Richard Yorgason of American Roofing in Utah.

“The program was created to invest in the future of the roofing and construction industries, but receiving the amazing letters of gratitude from these tremendous students has been the most rewarding part,” Marketing Communications Manager Alyssa Hall said.

For more information, visit www.gaf.com.