Two construction management majors received scholarships last month from the American Institute of Constructors. Junior Ben Landaal and sophomore Jose Nino brought home first and second place in an essay contest.
Jim Caldwell, professor of engineering and construction management, said he was pleased.
“We typically do very well with the [Institute] regional scholarship,” Caldwell said.
Landaal wrote his paper about fall prevention. He included statistics on falls and the injuries that occur due to falling on the construction site.
“Falls are prominent on the injury list,” Landaal said.
Landaal wants to remind site managers that double checking is always a must, and to increase the use of handrails and harnesses.
Nino’s paper included a detailed analysis of the benefits that Building Information Modeling is offering building designers, contractors and owners to incorporate green practices into their part of the building life cycle.
“When I found out that I won second place I was surprised,” Nino said.
Nino did not expect his paper to win anything, but he was pleased to know the judges appreciated his work.
“It’s a really cool opportunity to get paid to learn,” Nino said.
Caldwell encourages his students to apply for scholarships. There are many external scholarships that construction management students can apply for, ranging from $500 to over $2,500.
“It is a great way to fund their education and in the process is helpful in plugging into the construction profession and its various organizations,” Caldwell said.