MIA Scholarship Goes to Mendoza

CLEVELAND – Eddie Mendoza, a service technician with All-American Stone and Tile Care in Victorville, Calif., is the latest honoree of the Marble Institute of America (MIA) Natural Stone Scholarship Award.

The scholarship covered travel and lodging for Mendoza to attend the recent StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas  in Las Vegas.

Eddie MendozaA panel of five judges, consisting of MIA board directors and past presidents, made the selection.

Mendoza submitted a 500-word essay explaining his commitment to the natural-stone industry.

“The lyrics from the classic Queen song, ‘We Will, We Will, Rock You,’ now have a new meaning in my life,” Mendoza wrote. “I had no idea coming into the stone industry the unlimited design and installation possibilities natural stone provides. After just one year in the industry, my intent is to be a valuable craftsman. One of the greatest things about working with stone are the challenges I face everyday, which require patience and intuition.”

“Attending StonExpo would give me an opportunity to excel to the next level of my career. The potential knowledge I could receive from an event like this would maximize my skill and value to my employer. It would be my honor to be the first person to receive this award (in) representing the renovation/restoration segment of this industry. I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity.”

David B. Walton, All-American president, recommended Mendoza, noting that, “Eddie has shown a good mechanical aptitude and is self-motivated. He has been a steady learner and enjoys the craft he is developing. He is entering the phase of his development where he understands what the project at hand should look like in the end and has a good feel for varying techniques to achieve that result.

“We look forward to him continuing his development into the craftsman he has the ability to become.”

“Eddie is a fantastic representative of the younger workers in the natural stone industry,” added MIA Executive Vice President Garis Distelhorst. “It was inspiring watching him soak up every piece of information he could find at StonExpo. Eddie was at education seminars first thing in the morning … he took full advantage of this opportunity and I sincerely hope the knowledge he gained at StonExpo helps him in his career.”

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