Melvin Kruger Endowed Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress

Program administration
- The Melvin Kruger Scholarship Program is managed by Scholarship America, the country’s largest creator and administrator of scholarships and education-support initiatives for corporations, foundations, associations, and private donors. Individual program eligibility is set solely by the sponsor; Scholarship America’s review team evaluates applications that meet those sponsor-defined criteria.

Overview
- For more than 25 years the Roofing Alliance has driven advancement and innovation across the roofing industry—addressing workforce development, education, technology, and research. To support its mission of giving back and protecting the industry’s future, the Roofing Alliance funds the Melvin Kruger Scholarship Program to attract, educate, and prepare the next generation of skilled roofing professionals.
- We are grateful to the donors whose contributions to the Melvin Kruger Scholarship fund make these awards possible.
- One application covers three scholarship tracks (described below). The program is intended primarily for roofing industry employees (examples include field installers, foremen, superintendents, operations managers, office staff, sales personnel, warehouse workers, equipment operators, drivers, etc.), as well as their spouses and dependent children.

Who may apply — general guidelines
- Priority is given to applicants who are members of NRCA and the Roofing Alliance and to employees of member companies.
- Employee applicants (or their spouses/dependent children) must have been employed full-time or part-time with their roofing industry employer for at least one year as of the application deadline.
- Eligible students include high school seniors or graduates planning to enroll, and students already enrolled full time, in an undergraduate course of study that meets the requirements of the specific scholarship track.

Scholarship tracks and specific eligibility

1) Accredited University Scholarship (post-secondary)
- Intended for students pursuing a two- or four-year college/university program directly related to roofing or building construction.
- Eligibility:
- NRCA/Roofing Alliance member applicants: employee (full- or part-time) of a roofing industry company — or spouse/dependent — with at least one year of employment as of the application deadline.
- Applicants who are high school seniors planning to enroll, or who are already enrolled full time in an undergraduate program related to roofing or construction at an accredited two- or four-year institution.
- Construction Management students (regardless of industry affiliation) enrolled at the undergraduate level in programs that typically lead to a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management; such programs are often accredited by the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE).
- Awards:
- Up to twelve recipients will receive $5,000 each.
- Recipients must be enrolled at an accredited two- or four-year college or university for the full academic year.
- Awards may be renewed for up to three additional years (or until a bachelor’s degree is completed), provided recipients meet renewal conditions: maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent), remain in the same qualified major, and continue to meet program eligibility requirements.
- Scholarships are not guaranteed if a recipient’s major or eligibility status changes.

2) Accredited CTE (Vocational) Scholarship
- Designed for individuals pursuing career-focused trades within the roofing industry (for example: roof system and sheet metal installers/fabricators, crane/equipment operators, foremen, superintendents, warehouse/inventory specialists, and other trade roles). This track is not intended for occupations requiring a four-year degree.
- Eligibility:
- NRCA/Roofing Alliance member applicants: employee (full- or part-time) of a roofing industry company — or spouse/dependent — with at least one year of employment as of the application deadline.
- High school seniors planning to enroll, or students already enrolled full time, in an accredited vocational or technical trade school in a program directly related to a roofing career for the full academic year.
- CTE/vocational students may apply regardless of industry affiliation.
- Awards:
- Up to five recipients will receive $1,000 each.
- Must be enrolled at an accredited vocational or technical trade school for the entire academic year.
- These awards are not renewable, though eligible students may reapply in subsequent years.

3) Diversity Scholarship
- This scholarship supports students from historically underrepresented or diverse backgrounds, including (but not limited to) African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American/Indigenous, Native Hawaiian, multi-racial students, LGBTQ+ students, and students with physical or mental disabilities. All female students are also eligible regardless of race/ethnicity. Other students whose backgrounds contribute to diversity are encouraged to apply.
- The Diversity Scholarship is available for students pursuing construction science or closely related studies at either an accredited post-secondary institution or an accredited vocational/technical trade school.
- Eligibility:
- NRCA/Roofing Alliance member applicants: employee (full- or part-time) of a roofing industry company — or spouse/dependent — with at least one year of employment as of the application deadline.
- High school seniors planning to enroll, or students already enrolled full time, in an undergraduate program directly related to roofing or construction (or in an accredited vocational/technical trade program for the vocational award).
- Construction Management and CTE/vocational students may be eligible according to the descriptions above and regardless of industry affiliation where specified.
- Awards:
- Up to two Diversity Scholarships will be awarded: one $5,000 post-secondary award and one $1,000 vocational/trade award.
- The $5,000 post-secondary award is renewable for up to three additional undergraduate years if recipients maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA, keep a qualified major, and continue to meet program eligibility.
- The $1,000 vocational/trade award is not renewable, but eligible students may reapply each year.

Additional notes
- Applicants should be aware that the sponsor has final authority over program eligibility, and Scholarship America conducts the application review process in accordance with sponsor criteria.
- Priority is given to Roofing Alliance and NRCA members across all scholarship categories.