To construction firm Weis Builders, building relationships and giving back to the construction industry is just as important as the more tangible things they build. To that end, they have recently funded an endowed scholarship at Illinois State University to help offset the cost of a construction management (CM) degree for one student per year.
An endowed scholarship is the gift that keeps giving, as the Illinois State University Foundation makes investments with the initial endowment and then distributes the gains to a scholarship winner each year. Weis’ generous donation will help many students over the years to come.
Jackson Caldwell ’15, senior project manager at Weis Builders, said Weis has committed to creating opportunities like this scholarship at universities throughout the country, but the connection with Illinois State is particularly meaningful for him: “For me personally, I feel honored to work for a company that gives back to my alma mater. It’s rewarding to return to Illinois State University as an alumnus and have the chance to give back—whether through participating in career fairs, meeting with student groups, or now, supporting this scholarship.”
Weis has a longstanding relationship with Illinois State already, attending the University’s CM Career Fair every year where they hire many alums like Caldwell into their Chicago branch. In recent years, Weis has joined the CM Advisory Board at Illinois State to provide feedback and support the growth of the CM program.
“Ultimately, this scholarship isn’t about Weis Builders—it’s about supporting Illinois State University, advancing education in the industry, and creating better opportunities for students,” Caldwell said. These opportunities are more important than ever with Illinois State’s CM program experiencing record enrollment of students this year.
This scholarship, along with other Department of Technology scholarships, will be ready for students to apply for during next year’s application cycle and awarded during fall 2026.
