RWU student group for construction trades wins national award

BRISTOL – Roger Williams University has been recognized as one of three universities with the nation’s most outstanding student chapters of the Associated General Contractors of America, a trade association for the construction industry.

Student chapters at Oregon State University and Pittsburg State University in Kansas were also recognized at the association’s annual convention in Denver last week.

“There’s no more important goal for our industry today than to invest in its leaders of tomorrow,” said Eddie Stewart, the association president and president and CEO of Caddell Construction in Montgomery, Ala. “These student chapters have helped cultivate the construction workforce of the future and have completed projects that improve their local communities.”

The RWU chapter won the Emerging Student Chapter Award for exceptional program building and phenomenal partnership with its local AGC Chapter, according to the national organization. The student chapter was re-established in 2016 and began with a small group of 10 to 15 students. Over the next two years it began partnering with Rhode Island AGC, developing fundraiser events, organizing field trips, bringing in guest speakers, holding webinars, and presenting information on club activities in construction related classes on campus. The group holds meetings where networking opportunities, current industry trends, and news in the world of construction regularly fill a classroom of over 40 attendees, the AGC said.

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The Oregon State University student chapter won the Community Service Award for its project benefiting a school that was severely damaged during Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

The Pittsburg State University AGC student chapter won the Construction Management Skills and Project Award for the renovation of a railroad bridge in Joplin, Mo., showcasing how successfully they applied classroom knowledge to real world applications.

The three winning chapters received $2,000 each with a $1,000 travel stipend to attend AGC’s convention. They were selected by a panel of judges made up of practicing commercial contractors. Student chapters were evaluated on qualifying criteria in each of the three categories for exemplary demonstration of the AGC of America tenants of skill, responsibility and integrity.