Roger Williams University offers construction scholarships

Roger Williams University (RWU) in Bristol, Rhode Island, has selected four incoming students for its Shawmut Scholars program, a partnership between RWU and Boston-based Shawmut Design and Construction.

The program offers full-tuition scholarships, guaranteed paid internships and mentorship from industry professionals for students majoring in construction management or those majoring in architecture or business who commit to a construction management minor.

The program has been designed to ensure students graduate not only with degrees but also with four years of practical, hands-on construction experience and professional networks that typically take years to develop in the field.

“Our partnership with Shawmut gives students unparalleled access to the profession: mentorship from industry leaders, hands-on experience on active job sites and the confidence to lead,” RWU President Ioannis N. Miaoulis says. “We are proud to welcome this new class of Shawmut Scholars and excited to see the impact they will make on designed and built environments.”

The new class of Shawmut Scholars follows a previous scholar group who graduated from RWU this May. Two alumni have entered into careers with Shawmut’s offices in Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, while another relocated to pursue other opportunities.

“We are proud to launch the second cohort of Shawmut Scholars with our partners at RWU,” says Michelle LaFleur, chief human resources officer at Shawmut Design. “This marks the start of a meaningful four-year journey where Shawmut team members will serve as mentors and champions, helping scholars explore careers in construction, gain real-world experience and build lasting relationships.

“We couldn’t have a better partner in developing the next generation of talented professionals than Roger Williams, with its outstanding and nationally ranked programs in construction management and engineering. Together, we are committed to building a broader talent pipeline into the industry, and we’re excited to support these Scholars as they shape their future.”

The Shawmut Scholars program was launched in 2021 and is designed to provide skilled construction leaders with substantial hands-on experience. In addition to classroom instruction, the students rotate through active construction sites, shadow project managers, learn safety protocols firsthand and work on budgets and schedules.

The incoming round of Shawmut Scholars includes Kat Almeida, a construction management major from Rhode Island; Emma Jackson, a construction management major from Connecticut; Andie Moreira, an architecture major and construction management minor from New Hampshire; and Ary Ponce, an architecture major and construction management minor from New York.