By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Several Shelby County natives will be helping to alleviate the state’s qualified labor shortage in careers ranging from building science to landscape design after they received scholarships from the Home Builders Association of Alabama.

In order to be eligible for the scholarships, students must be Alabama residents, attending a junior college, technical school or university in Alabama and enrolled in a construction-related curriculum.

The following Shelby County natives received HBA scholarships:

-Aaron Baird of Alabaster, studying civil engineering at Auburn University

-Javier Canales of Helena, studying architecture at Jefferson State Community College

-Geraldo Carey of Birmingham, studying building construction at Lawson State Community College

-Jackson Cotney of Birmingham, studying building science at Auburn University

-Patrick Dreher of Pelham, studying landscape design and accounting at Auburn University

-Ronald Hawkins of Birmingham, studying HVAC at Lawson State

-Christopher Johnson of Birmingham, studying electrical technology at Lawson State

-Bryant Jones of Birmingham, studying HVAC at Jefferson State

-Darrin Jones of Birmingham, studying HVAC at Lawson State

-John Kampakis of Birmingham, studying business at the University of Alabama

-Timothy Taylor of Vincent, studying building construction at Jefferson State

-Willie Turner of Birmingham, studying HVAC at Lawson State

-David Weathersby of Birmingham, studying building construction at Lawson State

-Gerald Williams of Birmingham, studying HVAC at Lawson State