Building Futures: Ryan Awards Wallin Construction Pathway Scholarship

We’re proud to partner with Wallin Education Partners to invest in the next generation of construction leaders. Through scholarships, mentorship and hands-on career opportunities, this partnership helps create pathways for underrepresented students pursuing construction-related degrees at Dunwoody College of Technology.

As part of our collaboration, we’re excited to announce the recipient of the Wallin Construction Pathway Scholarship: Rafael Barajas-Guzman, a graduating senior with a deep passion for building a future as solid as the foundations he’s helped create.

Rafael stood out from a competitive pool of applicants for his work ethic, maturity and vision. He’s been drywalling scraps for his dad and eventually moving on to cutting drywall and managing tasks on the project site. That early hands-on experience sparked a lifelong love for the craft—and a dream to one day run his own construction company.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to know the Ryan team and building strong connections with everyone,” Rafael said. “I want to learn as much as I can and be part of a team that works well together. With the help of this program, I can stay focused on school and prepare to be a strong and efficient leader in the field.

As part of the Ryan Scholarship, Rafael will receive:

• Up to $35,000 in financial aid

• A full-time paid internship at Ryan between Rafael’s first and second year of college

• Ongoing mentorship from our team members and leaders

• Wallin’s 1:1 advising support ensuring college persistence and success

At Ryan, we believe construction isn’t just about buildings; it’s about people. By partnering with Wallin, we’re working to create more equitable access to construction careers and empower students to lead with skill and purpose. We’re honored to support Rafael’s journey and welcome him to our team.

About Wallin Education Partners Wallin Education Partners (Wallin) is a leading college and career success program, supporting over 1,700 students from across the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. Wallin offers comprehensive support to under-resourced students that includes financial aid, personalized advising, and career development to empower students to navigate college and transition into successful careers. Students attend more than 80 colleges nationwide with a six-year graduation rate of 87%, surpassing the national undergraduate average of 64% (NCES). With more than 6,000 alumni, Wallin Scholars are building more equitable, diverse, and vibrant communities. To learn more, please visit wallinpartners.org. Connect with us on LinkedIn, follow us on Instagram @WallinPartners, and like us on Facebook.