On Tuesday, June 24, Korellis hosted the eighth annual George and Harriet Korellis Roofing Scholarship Night at its headquarters in Hammond.
This competitive scholarship, named in honor of company founder George Korellis and his wife Harriet, provides financial assistance for higher education to Korellis employees and their immediate family members or dependents.
Over the past eight years, the program has awarded more than $275,000 in funds and given out 73 scholarships to students. This year, nine students were recipients of the scholarship.
Pete Korellis, interim president and CEO of Korellis and son of George and Harriet, established the scholarship alongside his wife Susie Korellis in honor of his parents.
“This is a way of giving back to our employees and thanking them for all that they do,” Pete Korellis said. “I would like to hope that the scholarship program shows just how much we value the workers here. It’s all about them. We try to take care of our employees first and then our employees take care of our customers. We want to acknowledge the hard work these kids have put into their education. I’ve known some of these kids since they were little and it's quite gratifying to see what they’re accomplishing now.”
Each student began the scholarship application process last fall, gathering letters of recommendation, filling out a survey, and writing multiple essays. This lengthy process had its exciting culmination at the George and Harriet Korellis Scholarship Night event. After a cocktail hour and a delicious meal, Pete Korellis read a brief bio for each student that outlined their interests, courses of study, and future plans.
Several students were second-time winners. Susie Korellis presented each student with a certificate amid the applause of the proud parents and friends.
“My hope is that these employees and their families go home knowing that Korellis is a place where they can grow,” Matt Evans, vice president of operations at Korellis, said. “In a lot of ways, education is a gateway to many possibilities and opportunities. If we can support a student in their pursuit of something that interests them, who knows what they can make of that opportunity? These scholarships are seeds that we plant in each student’s life. Our hope is that these seeds will bear fruit and help the students achieve more of their potential.”
Parents of this year’s recipients represent a wide range of roles across the company, including a commercial estimator, a sheet metal foreman, a journeyman roofer, and a payroll administrator. The winning students are pursuing their studies across Indiana, with some attending schools like Purdue University Northwest, Indiana State University, and Indiana University Northwest.
Kacie Learman, one of the scholarship recipients, is a sophomore exercise science major at the University of Indianapolis. After graduating, she plans to earn her master’s degree in physical therapy at the University of Indianapolis.
“I’m very grateful for this scholarship,” Learman said. “This is a great opportunity for students because these funds will help us a lot. The fact that Korellis offers the scholarship to students and puts on this event shows how much they care about, not only their employees, but future generations as well.”
Bryce Zamojski, one of the scholarship recipients, is a freshman environmental science major at Purdue University Northwest.
“It feels really good to have won the scholarship,” Zamojski said. “However, I don’t feel that all the credit goes to me. My parents put in a lot of work to get me where I am today. Without their help, I would never have been able to work hard enough to earn the scholarship. This event is great because it allows us recipients and everyone who has supported us to get together and network. The connections and bonds we establish here tonight could last for a long time. I hope the other winners feel grateful for everything that’s come their way and proud of what they’ve accomplished.”
Please visit korellis.com to learn more about Korellis’ services and history.
