We at Lawson State take pride in our students who are willing to take on unique challenges to achieve their goals, and LaToya McGrue and Sidni Smith are no exceptions to this philosophy. While initially entering our construction program to gain knowledge, McGrue quickly discovered it to be her passion and took the initiative to learn and understand the technical language of the field.
LaToya McGrue and Sidni Smith entered Lawson State's construction program in pursuit of new skills and industry knowledge. Ultimately, they learned so much more.
"I didn't understand the technical language, so I decided to come here and get into construction. The more I got into it, the more I fell in love with it," said LaToya, who has become passionate about construction. "I actually found something that I absolutely love."
For Sidni, a third-grade math teacher, construction has always been a major part of her life, with her family being involved in housing design. Her grandfather still operates a rental property business that she helps manage.
"My father and grandfather have always encouraged having a trade – something else to rely on, a skill in your back pocket," said Sidni.
Both women were among several students selected by instructor Emmit Stallworth to represent Lawson State in the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) HBCU Student Cohort, a national leadership program involving 20 students from HBCUs across the country.
"This is the largest number of women Mr. Stallworth has had in the program, and it's been great to see the diversity," said Sidni.
At the NAHB International Builders' Show (IBS) in Orlando, Fla. this past February, they were assigned a detailed residential construction proposal for a home to be built in Tecumseh, Okla. Judges praised the estimating work as the most detailed they had ever witnessed, along with Lawson State's thorough preparation for the competition.
The cohort has connected LaToya and others with business owners, developers, general contractors, and women leaders in the industry, including Professional Women in Building (PWB), women homebuilders, real estate developers, scholarship program representatives, and mentors and industry partners.
"For me, the cohort has been life-changing. The networking, connections, and the support have been different from anything I've seen," McGrue said. "We've built a family. We text each other, celebrate birthdays, and help each other. Some people said that this was the most support they've ever received in their life."
As a student with two adult children, McGrue believes adult learners bring essential strengths. "I am older, but also stronger than I thought," she said. "It built my confidence. I'm always nervous, but I know what I'm doing."
Sidni, who is also an attorney, is interested in helping to revive Lawson State's NAHB student chapter and expanding partnerships with the Greater Birmingham Home Builders Association.
