For Immediate Release
May 4, 2017

Benefactor Builds Suffolk Students' Futures with Computers, Internships and Jobs

Photo at left, L to R: Peter Maritato, Academic Chair; Professor of Engineering Science and Electrical Technology; Scott W. Erath President, Wm. Erath & Son, Inc.; student Patricia Filbert, Construction Technology - Architectural Technology A.A.S. Degree; Natalie Niemann, Associate Professor of Construction Technology.

Photo at right, L to R: Peter Maritato, Academic Chair; Professor of Engineering Science and Electrical Technology; Scott W. Erath President, Wm. Erath & Son, Inc.;  Jennifer Navarro,  Construction Technology - Architectural Technology A.A.S. degree; Natalie Niemann, Associate Professor of Construction Technology.

Scott Erath's  Amityville Company Wm. Erath & Son, Inc. has helped build students' futures for nearly a decade by supporting the construction technology program at Suffolk County Community College with student internships, jobs and hardware.

Erath awarded two students -- his eighth such award, that now totals more than $30,000 -- with laptop computers preloaded with construction industry software at a ceremony on May 3.

Erath said he gives the awards because he loves to give back and often hires students from Suffolk.

Patricia Filbert of Shirley and Jennifer Navarro of Central Islip were awarded the laptops by Erath that are worth nearly $2,000.

“Industry partnership with higher education is a win-win situation,” said Suffolk County Community College Academic Chair of Science and Engineering Pete Maritato.  “Industry partners have a pipeline to employees that are prepared and ready to work on their first day and our educational programs benefit from industry feedback allowing the alignment of courses to industries’ needs and providing ‘real-life’ work experience for students.”