FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
World of Concrete 2026 Registration Is Open ↗

MIA+BSI Offers Two Scholarship Opportunities for the Natural Stone Industry

Words: Mia AllenMIA+BSI: The Natural Stone Institute is pleased to announce that two scholarships are available this year for individuals pursuing a career in the natural stone industry–the Natural Stone Scholarship and the Women in Stone Empowerment Scholarship.

The Natural Stone Scholarship will provide a trip to TISE 2018, where the winner will gain valuable technical and practical knowledge regarding the stone industry and will meet and network with leading stone professionals. The ideal candidate will be a fabricator, installer, or administrative apprentice with fewer than five years’ experience in the natural stone industry and at least six months experience working with an MIA+BSI member company.

The winner of the 2016 Natural Stone Scholarship, Jan Ligas (Wilkstone), commented: “Winning the Natural Stone Scholarship was a great experience. It helped me realize how big the stone industry in the United States is. The classes at TISE taught me specific new information in regards to the trade I work in. I met wonderful people there and I learned that consistency and patience can help me become successful in this business.” The deadline to apply for the 2017 Natural Stone Scholarship is Friday, July 14.

The Women in Stone Empowerment Scholarship provides a trip to a 2018 stone industry event: TISE, Coverings, or the MIA+BSI Study Tour. The winner will be given the opportunity to gain valuable technical and practical knowledge to deepen her commitment to a career in the stone industry and explore her potential for leadership. The winner will also shadow industry professionals within different sectors of the stone industry. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of two years of experience, be currently employed by an MIA+BSI member company, and must be a first-time attendee of the chosen event.

The winner of the 2016 Women in Stone Empowerment Scholarship, Jessica Lussier (Granit Design), said: “This scholarship, to say the least, changed not only the path of my career but also my personal life on many levels. It helped put me on a professional map at a very young age–that would have taken years to reach without this opportunity. Every ‘go-getter’ woman in this industry deserves this chance, and should apply.” The deadline to apply for the 2017 Women in Stone Empowerment Scholarship is Friday, August 4.

To learn more about these scholarships and other MIA+BSI Industry Recognition Awards, please visit www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/awards.
 0
From Day One to Long-Term Success: Onboarding Strategies for Contractors
January 2026

The construction industry is facing one of its toughest challenges in decades. Companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers while competing to keep the ones they have. At the same time, projects are becoming more complex, deadlines are tighter,

Matt Dibara
Business Management
Read More
Finding the Right PPE for Your Work
January 2026

When it comes to PPE, one thing’s for sure: safety isn’t one size fits all. The work you’re doing, where you’re doing it, and even what time of year it is, can all make a big difference in what gear actually works. Price, comfort, and job performance all

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Back Injuries: The Real Cost and How to Prevent Them
January 2026

The mention of back injuries makes mason contractors cringe, and for good reason. Masons lift heavy objects every day, all day long. When a person sustains a back injury, it is serious. It affects every part of their life, from their ability to perform wo

Zach Everett
Safety Library
Read More
Detailing for Durability: The 2026 Guide to High-Performance Stone Veneer Transitions
January 2026

Some of the most expensive failures involving manufactured stone veneer installations don’t come from the stone at all, but rather from the material transitions and flashing around it. Transitions are weak points in the overall cladding where water can fi

Jeff Tew
Technical Talks
Read More