News about Construction Management

Get ready for a busy week, students and graduates! Twelve employers, all eager to hire from a wide variety of majors, are headed your way.

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Pennsylvania College of Technology construction management students placed first in both categories they entered at the 31st annual Associated Schools of Construction Region 1 Student Competition on Nov. 13-14.

Each team was competing against seven other college and university construction management programs from the Northeast. Ordinarily held in Albany, New York, this year’s event was entirely virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenge necessitated the use of various technologies and systems, including Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

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Construction management student Mason E. Blethen and human services and restorative justice student Kristien T. Quintanilla are two of at least three Pennsylvania College of Technology students called to provide emergency support through the Pennsylvania National Guard during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quintanilla, of Jersey Shore, a combat medic in the Guard, was one of 18 members of the Pennsylvania National Guard who reported to the Broomall Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Delaware County to assist with staffing shortages. The group, a mix of military nurses and medics, provided routine care to non-acute patients beginning April 18.

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From the boardroom to the job site, construction managers call the shots. They take the lead to ensure building projects are completed on time and within budget. Take a look at Penn College’s bachelor of science degree in construction management, meet a few soon-to-be construction managers and see how they’re preparing to rise to the top of this dynamic and exciting career field. “Ultimately, what I would love to do is just to go back to the community I’m from with the education I’ve gotten here,” says Zachary N. Wilkinson, of North Wales, one of the students included in a college YouTube video. “And then, maybe, change the skyline of Philadelphia.”

Two alumni of Penn College’s four-year construction management major – Brian J. Fish and Matthew R. Sarver – are included among the 20 Top Young Professionals in Engineering News-Record’s Mid-Atlantic Region. Fish, a 2002 graduate, is a general superintendent with Hensel Phelps; Sarver, Class of 2004, is an area manager at Gilbane Building Co.

The magazine’s 2020 roster represents the “best and brightest emerging design and construction leaders from across the region,” comprising Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The awards program honors individuals who have built extraordinary industry portfolios in just a few short years. In addition, according to the publication, many donate significant amounts of time and expertise to serve their communities. Each recipient will be profiled in more detail in ENR MidAtlantic’s February issue.

The winning entries will advance to consideration for ENR’s National “Top Young 20 Under 40” honors, to be announced in the spring.

Six-member teams of Pennsylvania College of Technology construction management students brought home first- and fifth-place honors from the 30th annual Associated Schools of Construction Region 1 Student Competition held Nov. 8-10 in Albany, New York.

Penn College topped the Pre-Construction category, sponsored by Weeks Marine Inc., which challenged four teams to handle project startup for the first phase of deck rehabilitation at International-Matex Tank Terminals’ Pier 6 in New Jersey – including allowance for delivery of materials and equipment by waterborne barge.

The college’s Commercial entry, enlisted by Dimeo Construction Co. to renovate a three-story dormitory at Providence College and connect it by an atrium to a new two-story building, placed fifth among 13 teams. That category was won by Drexel University.

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​WNEP’s Chris Keating visited campus for Thursday’s PA Build My Future, filing a report on the second annual introduction of secondary students to the wide-open world of construction and design careers. Keating visited indoor and outdoor exhibits facilitated by industry sponsors, Penn College faculty and current students (who gave up a day of Fall Break to excitedly represent their respective majors). Included in the broadcast were Carol A. Lugg, dean of construction and design technologies; building construction technology instructor Levon A. Whitmyer; Christine A. Limbert, of Curwensville, enrolled in architectural technology; and Lucas Vandergrift, a sophomore at Wellsboro High School who was among the day’s 929 students from nearly 30 high schools and career and technical centers.
(“PA Build My Future photo gallery)

Allan Myers Inc., a heavy civil construction and construction materials company operating throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, will contribute an additional $50,000 annually to a scholarship it established previously at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Preference for the Allan Myers Scholarship is given to full-time Penn College students who are employees/family members of Allan Myers Inc.

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Penn College’s Construction Management Association recently took 24 students to Washington, D.C., for a tour of six major works-in-progress, including expansion projects at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Photos by Wayne R. Sheppard, assistant professor and department head for construction management

Two construction management students and their academic dean at Pennsylvania College of Technology recently served as judges at the Pennsylvania Technology Student Association State Conference in Seven Springs.

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The first Penn College Construction Management Competition, a two-day event primarily orchestrated and judged by three students about to graduate, has crowned its first champions.

“One of our key objectives in hosting this competition was to encourage the underclassmen to get more involved and learn how to perform under pressure with more realistic directives than in the classroom,” said co-organizer Lauren S. Herr, of Lititz. “Although we only had three teams compete, I think we accomplished our goal. Each contestant took something away from the competition, whether it was how to properly communicate an RFI (Request for Information), or how to better manage their time as a team.”

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Two teams of Pennsylvania College of Technology students finished strongly among the 22 institutions in the 29th annual Associated Schools of Construction Region 1 Student Competition held Nov. 8-10 in Albany, New York.

The college’s Design-Build Team, charged with developing and constructing a STEM expansion at one of New England’s premier boarding schools, placed second. Its Commercial Team, challenged to provide a new Development Center on the Providence College campus, placed third in the competition.

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More than a dozen Penn College construction management students returned to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank this week, helping to pack boxes for the agency’s Military Share program. “A big shout-out to the Construction Management Association for joining in. They all had great attitudes and superb energy that motivated the rest of the group to keep going,” said Jenelle Longacre, the Food Bank’s volunteer project coordinator. “In fact, they helped this group to the point of breaking their own record of boxes packed during an event!” The old record was 950 boxes in 2½ hours; Tuesday’s group packed 970 boxes in an hour and 50 minutes. “Our volunteers are truly the heart of our mission,” added Longacre, who noted that the Food Bank delivers to seven sites in the Northern Tier. Penn College has a history of service to the nonprofit, with frequent visits from student organizations, fraternities and employees.

Seven Pennsylvania College of Technology students were recently designated by the college’s Construction Management Advisory Committee to receive scholarship awards.

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