If you ask Rhi Scebbi how she found her way into construction, she’ll tell you it started with Legos, and she’s not kidding. Her lifelong fascination with how things are built has evolved into a fast-moving career path that’s already packed with real-world experience, community involvement, and big goals for the future.

Currently working as a co-op with Rudolph Libbe Inc., Rhi has jumped headfirst into two massive industrial projects: a 2.7 million square foot Ford plant expansion and a Kimberly-Clark facility that produces household paper products you probably have in your home right now. “Wherever they need me, they put me,” she says, and that’s no exaggeration. From tracking daily concrete pours and helping manage subcontracts to writing meeting minutes and supporting fieldwork like dynamic compaction, she’s had her hands in nearly every aspect of the jobsite.

And while she’s earning her bachelor’s in Civil Engineering at Cleveland State University, Rhi already holds an associate degree in Construction Management from Lorain County Community College. She’s confident construction management is where she belongs. “I’ve always loved the process of going from nothing to something,” she says. “Learning how all the moving parts come together on a jobsite—it’s just really cool.”

This year, Rhi was awarded a scholarship from the NAWIC Founders’ Scholarship Foundation (NFSF), a national program that awards over $250,000 annually to students pursuing construction-related degrees or trades training. The scholarship recognizes students who not only show promise in their fields, but also demonstrate leadership, service, and a deep commitment to the industry. In Rhi’s case, that includes volunteering at the Friendship Animal Protective League in Lorain, where she walks dogs, cleans kennels, and helps care for shelter animals. It’s a role she took on after the loss of her own beloved pup. “It helped me heal,” she shared, “and it lets me keep that connection to animals I’ve always loved.”

Rhi first joined NAWIC in 2023 during a co-op with Regency Construction Services, a women-owned firm where she found strong mentors and a welcoming community. Now at Rudolph Libbe, she continues her involvement and values the connections she’s made through NAWIC Cleveland. “It can be intimidating coming into a male-dominated field,” she says. “So having women around me in my first job and now in NAWIC helped me feel like I belong.”

When she’s not on a jobsite or studying for exams, Rhi is likely lifting weights, discovering new music (all genres welcome), or traveling. She recently visited family in Sicily and ranks Asheville, North Carolina, high on her list of U.S. favorites. She also plays dodgeball with Stonewall Sports in the winter and dabbled in kickball and rugby.

Rhi’s energy, humility, and passion for the industry make her a standout in every sense. She’s proof that curiosity and drive, plus a willingness to say yes and jump in, can take you far.

Congratulations, Rhi, from all of us at NAWIC Cleveland. We’re proud to have you in our community and excited to watch you continue building your future, one pour, one project, and one dog walk at a time.