MSU Construction Management program dominates at National Association of Home Builders Show award’s ceremony

Construction management students, faculty and alumni from MSU’s School of Planning, Design and Construction received several awards at the National Association of Home Builders International Builders’ Show on Feb. 20 in Las Vegas.

Photo of MSU construction management students, faculty and alumni who received awards at this event.
MSU Construction Management students, faculty and alumni during the awards ceremony. From left to right: Steve Nellis, Matt Syal, Sinem Mollaoglu, Alex Beem, Dan Hamilton, Eric Savad, Jack Brierton, Sarah Stubbe, Rachael Boerma, Amada Wakefield, Ming-Han Li, Danyel Zmudka, Al Scott, George Berghorn.

Construction management students, faculty and alumni from Michigan State University’s School of Planning, Design and Construction received several awards at the National Association of Home Builders International Builders’ Show on Feb. 20 in Las Vegas.

The awards include:

  • The Construction Management Residential Construction Competition team led by George Berghorn, assistant professor in construction management, won 1st place in the Student Competition.
  • George Berghorn received the Outstanding Educator Award in the junior faculty category.
  • Alumnus Al Scott received the Outstanding Industry Advisory Board Member Award.
  • Alumnus Dan Hamilton received an Outstanding Student Award.
  • The MSU Student Builders & Contractors Association won 2nd place for the Outstanding Student Chapter Awards.

"It sure was a glorious night for our program at the Show and made all Spartans proud. This is a platform where more than 35 schools compete, and there were more than 750 in attendance that night representing many other schools and the industry across the nation,” said Sinem Mollaoglu, PhD, associate professor and program director for construction management.

“Spartans dominated the awards ceremony receiving recognition in all areas. This shows that our program is very strong with all stakeholders working together in our community to create success and make a difference.”

This is the third time the Competition team has placed 1st at this event, since its founding in 1994. The last time was in 2013. The team competes every year and regularly places in the top five.

“This was a proud moment for MSU construction management students, faculty, staff and alumni. Team members pulled out all the stops and did an amazing job as a collaborative group working on a complex and challenging project,” Berghorn said.

“Their efforts will serve them well as they leave Michigan State and work on project teams in the construction industry, and this 1st place win will certainly be something they remember for years.”

The competition portion of the International Builders’ Show gives students an opportunity to apply their classroom skills to a real construction company by completing a comprehensive land development proposal.

“This competition takes five months of the team’s hard work and focused effort. We ask a lot of them and they certainly delivered,” Berghorn said.

Another award recipient, Al Scott – a 1973 construction management graduate – is an advisory board member and donor for the program’s Housing Research and Education initiative.

“Al Scott has been a great supporter and advisor to our students, faculty and our program. I greatly value his guidance and friendship,” said Matt Syal, PhD, professor in construction management, who introduced him and presented the award.

Finally, the National Home Builders Association recently created the Student Chapter Excellence program, which promotes student chapter excellence by recognizing active chapters who are involved with their local home builders association.

This is the first time the MSU Student Builders & Contractors Association has received an Outstanding Student Chapter Award. The student association provides a place for students to network with industry professionals and learn more about their field as they near graduation. Membership is open to all construction management students and affiliated majors.

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