Dan Rea, left, MIA's president and sponsor of the 2014 Scholarship Award and Tony Malisani, right, MIA's 2014 president, presenting the 2014 MIA Natural Stone Scholarship Award to Stephen Beck.

Stephen Beck, assistant project manager of Connecticut Stone Supplies in Milford, Conn., has been awarded the 2014 Marble Institute of America (MIA) Natural Stone Scholarship Award.

The scholarship is awarded annually to provide educational opportunities to further careers in the stone industry. Beck will earn a degree in construction management later this spring from Central Connecticut State University.

“My eyes have been opened to the vast applications of stone I never saw possible,” Beck wrote in his application essay. “While I have always had an interest in design and architecture, the stone industry has given me the opportunity to draft and design bathrooms, countertops, bar tops, accent walls, and backsplashes. I believe the opportunity to attend StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas will boost my knowledge of the industry to new levels. This knowledge will help me improve not only myself, but the company I work for.”

Tyra Dellacroce, vice president of Connecticut Stone, said, “Stephen Beck is talented, passionate and hardworking. It is very exciting to work with a passionate young professional who is at the beginning of what I believe will be a very successful career in the stone industry.”

Applications for the 2015 Scholarship Award are available here: marble-institute.com/Awards.