Celebrating the RCASoCal 2023 scholarship recipients

By the Roofing Contractors Association of Southern California.

The future is bright! Meet the Jim Nienow Memorial Scholarship recipients.

Last year, the Roofing Contractors Association of Southern California had the privilege of supporting 19 exceptional individuals, each of whom is embarking on a unique path toward their future. Thank you to our members and supporters for your support of our scholarship program. Over the past 30 years, our scholarship program has supported the educational  pursuits of our member families and employees with more than $350,000 awarded to date.  Thank you for being part of the impact we are making together.

We encourage you to explore the profiles of our 2023 scholarship recipients below.
 

Amber Garcia
Bachelor’s in Science / Bachelor’s in Nursing
Daughter of Tommy Garcia, SRS Distribution / JB Wholesale

"What really drew me close to the idea of becoming a nurse was my aunt. My aunt’s sister passed away on August 12, 2002. This was the exact day and year I was born, with her passing away early morning around the same time I was born. My aunt’s sister was a registered nurse. She had just finished her 12 hour shift and was on her way home when she fell asleep behind the wheel, which resulted in a tragic car accident. My aunt told me once I was old enough to understand that she believes her sister left this world so that I could enter it. I feel a strong connection to honor both my aunt and her sister by following in her footsteps of becoming a nurse."

Gianna Gatson
Biology
Stepdaughter of Paul Rodriguez, National Nail

"Being a student-athlete, I was always interested in maintaining a healthy body and lifestyle. I was originally interested in sports medicine, which shifted into wanting to be a pediatrics physicians assistant."

Grace L. Rucka
Business Marketing
Daughter of Ben Rucka, Malarkey Roofing Products

"Marketing is a highly competitive and rewarding field. I have always been a creative problem solver and feel that I can utilize this skillset in the ever-challenging and exciting world or marketing, especially digital marketing. I first became interested in pursuing a marketing degree during my high school psychology class. I found the study of human behavior regarding choices of products and brands to be fascinating."

John (Jack) Bennett Rucka
Business
Son of Ben Rucka, Malarkey Roofing Products

"One of the main reasons I am interested in pursuing business in college is the people I admire the most have a Business degree or background. These mentors of mine have shown me the value of a strong work ethic and the importance of building strong work relationships. I also like the flexibility that a degree in Business offers. It is broad enough to help prepare me for a wide range of career opportunities across many different industries."