--- title: "Building the Next Generation: Growth of the CxEnergy Rising Professionals Scholarship Program" id: "68991" type: "post" slug: "building-the-next-generation-growth-of-the-cxenergy-rising-professionals-scholarship-program" published_at: "2026-11-11T21:21:11+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-11T22:25:05+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/11/building-the-next-generation-growth-of-the-cxenergy-rising-professionals-scholarship-program/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/11/building-the-next-generation-growth-of-the-cxenergy-rising-professionals-scholarship-program.md" excerpt: "With retirements looming, one commissioning association paired students with mentors and employers to turn a conference scholarship into a path into the profession." taxonomy_category: - "Career Development" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Building the Next Generation: Growth of the CxEnergy Rising Professionals Scholarship Program A diverse team of professionals celebrates a workplace achievement with a high-five in a modern office. The moment captures motivation, cooperation, and a positive business culture focused on teamwork The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is facing a crisis. It is projected that [over 40 percent of construction professionals will retire by (opens in a new tab)](https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/engineering-and-construction/engineering-and-construction-industry-outlook.html) [2031 (opens in a new tab)](https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/engineering-and-construction/engineering-and-construction-industry-outlook.html) . What does that look like? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are roughly 8.3 million workers in the AEC industry in the United States. If 40 percent of that workforce were to retire, that equals approximately 3.3 million open jobs by 2031. The question the [AABC Commissioning (opens in a new tab)](http://www.commissioning.org/) [Group (opens in a new tab)](http://www.commissioning.org/) [(ACG) (opens in a new tab)](http://www.commissioning.org/) wants to answer is how to fill that gap. In 2025, the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) developed the [CxEnergy Rising Professionals Scholarship (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cxenergy.com/scholarship) [program (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cxenergy.com/scholarship) to help address this challenge. The scholarship gave engineering students the opportunity to attend the CxEnergy Conference & Expo, the premier industry event for building commissioning, energy management, and building technology. Out of 14 applications, 10 candidates from across the country had the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, gain real-world insights, and explore the latest innovations shaping the built environment. Building on the success of the CxEnergy 2025 Rising Professionals Scholarship and the growing need for workforce development in the commissioning industry, ACG entered CxEnergy 2026 with one clear goal: growth. When bringing back the scholarship program for 2026, the organization wanted to do more than provide engineering students with complimentary conference access; it wanted to equip them with the tools and connections needed to launch a career in commissioning. ## So how did ACG do it? Informed by current workforce trends and direct feedback gathered from previous conference participants, ACG identified two critical gaps in the program: structured guidance and career access. In response, the CxEnergy Rising Professionals Mentorship Program was introduced. What better way to offer insight into commissioning than through direct conversations with industry professionals? ACG’s network of 450+ member companies provided an excellent pool of potential conference mentors. But to truly equip these students with the tools they need to enter the commissioning industry, ACG added one final component: a career fair. Five ACG member companies hosted tabletop exhibits at CxEnergy, giving students the opportunity to engage directly with employers and learn about career opportunities in the field. With the program fully structured, the application period began—and the response was extraordinary. More than 40 submissions were received, triple the amount from the previous year. Applications arrived from around the world, including students from India, Nigeria, Egypt, Canada, and Jordan. After a thorough review process, 21 scholarship recipients were selected representing 18 universities, including the University of Maryland, Texas Tech University, Drexel University, Northeastern University, Arizona State University Polytechnic, the University of Florida, and South Carolina State University. In just one year, the number of scholarship recipients more than doubled, from 10 students to 21. With the conference approaching, 12 accomplished commissioning authorities (CxAs) were selected to serve as mentors. Each mentor was paired with one to two scholarship recipients. Before the conference, mentors and mentees connected during a virtual orientation to begin building relationships. At the conference, ACG hosted a meet-and-greet networking event where mentors and students engaged in person and shared meals throughout the week. This provided ongoing opportunities to exchange career wisdom and best practices. As mentor John Daniel of Solutions AEC said, “It was energizing and encouraging to engage with the next generation.” The feeling was clearly mutual. While mentors left inspired by the next generation, students left with something equally powerful: clarity. The career fair, which brought together five ACG member companies for direct employer engagement, served as the final piece of a program designed to transform a conference into a launchpad. “Attending CxEnergy strengthened my understanding of commissioning and building systems while connecting me with industry professionals, helping clarify my career path toward energy systems and sustainable engineering,” recipient Joannliseth Prieto of Texas Tech University said. Treating student engagement as a part of a long-term membership and recruitment strategy is beneficial for trade associations as well as students. ACG’s program suggests a few starting points: give students access to industry events, connect them with members who can serve as mentors, and give employers a direct way to meet them. For association management companies, this means helping clients design programs that serve both groups, offering students a way into the profession and offering members a way to meet future employees. Associations facing similar workforce pressures can adapt this approach to their own events and member networks. As ACG looks ahead to CxEnergy 2027 in Las Vegas, the CxEnergy Rising Professionals Scholarship program will continue creating pathways for students to explore careers in commissioning through mentorship, networking, and direct industry engagement. Engineering and building industry students are encouraged to [apply (opens in a new tab)](https://www.cxenergy.com/scholarship/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24371886405&gbraid=0AAAAApYf2rhuehiOvWWnUuxKd0hSKsx1Z&gclid=CjwKCAjwi-zWBhAdEiwAqlRf-NdQYSN97VMO0IBDfGGYBGHcpwqOQArTiugQEs2k7GeVDE6CsMt6jBoCH6AQAvD_BwE) . [William Thomas](https://associationsnow.com/author/william-thomas/) William Thomas is an associate account executive at Capital Association Management (CAM), focused on building university partnerships, developing early-career pipelines, and connecting students with career opportunities in the commissioning and energy management industry. 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