The Building Contractors Association of Northeast Indiana (BCA) announced the winners of the 2026 Presidential Merit Scholarships. This program was created to recognize significant achievements and reward deserving students pursuing construction-related college degree programs. The recipients of the
two $2,500 Presidential Merit Scholarships are Benjamin Roth and Thomas Stureman.
Benjamin Roth, a graduating senior from Huntington North High School who plans to pursue a degree in construction management at the University of Cincinnati. A dedicated student and leader, Roth has excelled academically while ranking in the top five percent of his class and serving as Student Council president.
He has been actively involved in athletics, broadcasting and community organizations, developing strong leadership, communication and teamwork skills. With hands-on experience in construction through family projects and a passion for building, Roth aspires to become a project manager and eventually own his own construction business, making a lasting impact in his community.
Thomas Stureman is a construction engineering student at Purdue University who has demonstrated strong academic achievement and leadership both on campus and in his community. A graduate of Bishop Dwenger High School and valedictorian of his class, Stureman has maintained an impressive GPA while earning Dean's List honors. He is actively involved in organizations such as the Purdue Grand Prix team, Delta Chi Fraternity and Beta Tau Academic Fraternity, where he has taken on multiple leadership roles.
With hands-on industry experience through internships at Shambaugh & Son and a passion for building meaningful relationships in construction, Stureman plans to pursue a career that combines technical expertise with leadership and long-term impact.
BCA is a professional trade association founded in 1917. Its members include commercial contractors and companies that supply the industry with materials and services. As an organization, BCA advocates for strong ethics and quality workmanship, committed to supporting its members through education, training, advocacy, and networking opportunities.
For more information, visit bcani.org.
