Foundations Offer Student Sponsorship for 2024 IIBEC/OBEC BES

The RCI-IIBEC Foundation and RCI Foundation Canada are pleased to announce that they will be providing funding for full-time college students to attend the 2024 IIBEC/OBEC BES, September 29–October 1, 2024, in Toronto, Canada. Through the Joe Hale Student Sponsorship Fund, registration, hotel, and up to $750 USD in travel expenses are covered for students.

To qualify, an applicant must be a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours per semester) and be enrolled in architecture; architectural, structural, or civil engineering; construction management; building sciences; or other related areas of study. Up to 10 students are eligible to receive this funding (possibly more pending proximity to event location), with priority going to undergraduate students. No more than three students from the same university may be selected.

Sponsorship recipients will be required to:

• Attend BES presentations and devote one hour to the vendor exhibit area.
• Participate in marketing efforts by sharing the experience of the symposium and the knowledge gained.

Students interested in receiving sponsorship should submit no later than Monday, July 22, 2024, a completed application, a letter of recommendation from a professor or instructor, and an essay explaining their field of study and what they hope to gain by attending the 2024 IIBEC/OBEC BES. A current valid passport and/or visa will be required to attend the symposium if traveling from the US. The application can be found on the RCI-IIBEC and RCI Foundation Canada websites.

“The depth and breadth of knowledge I gained from the symposium were immeasurable,” said Tyler Seiwert, a previous recipient of a BES sponsorship who is studying construction management at Pittsburg State (Kansas). “Being in the company of experts and pioneers in the field was both humbling and enlightening. I found myself engrossed in the sessions, soaking in every bit of information, coming out with a renewed passion for the subject. The event not only allowed me to expand my knowledge but also provided a platform to network, share, and learn from others.”

BES sponsorship recipient Christiana Bevilacqua, an architecture student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, said, “Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to attend the symposium. I am very grateful that I gained so much knowledge and insight and made connections with many people in the industry.”

For more information about student sponsorships, please contact RCI-IIBEC Foundations Development Officer Rick Gardner at Rgardner@iibec.org.