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Three College Organizations Receive Top Awards for Building a Better Quality of Life in their Community

Iowa State University, Oregon State University and California State University Chico are home to the nation’s top collegiate construction associations this year, according to an analysis of award applications conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America.  As a result, the three student groups each received the association’s Outstanding Student Chapter award.

"These student chapters have demonstrated exceptional skill and experience that will serve them—and our industry—well in the future,” said Chuck Greco, the association's president and chairman of Houston, Texas-based Linbeck Group.   "The young men and women involved in these projects are doing commendable work and we want to encourage them to continue pursuing their goals and gaining valuable experience."

Greco noted that the Iowa State University �۽�ֱ�� student chapter was selected as the top student group, largely for its work repairing the homes in the Ames community as well as communities in need in Tennessee and Nevada. Home repair projects included roof repair, interior wall framing, installation of insulation and drywall, painting, trim work, winter weatherization, building handicap ramps, two decks and more. With 67 student chapter members involved, they assisted over 10 families in need over the year. Thanks to their accomplishments, the student chapter received $1,500 from the national association to help finance their operations.

Oregon State University Associated General Contractors student chapter was selected as the second-best student group thanks to its workforce development programs and service. The student chapter created the first high school �۽�ֱ�� student chapter in the nation at ACE Academy in Portland, Oregon. The OSU student chapter helped ACE Academy create a constitution, a calendar of events, and expand their membership.  They also reached out to middle school students to teach them about the construction industry through building games and other programming. In addition, the OSU student chapter completed service projects including donating food to their local youth homeless shelter, partnering with Habitat for Humanity, and helping build a surgical center in Haiti. As a result, the group was awarded $750 from the association.

California State University Chico �۽�ֱ�� student chapter was named the nation’s third-best student construction group for its work in multiple community service projects.  Chico participated in Career GPS, a one day event exposing 6,000 regional high school students to Chico States’ Construction Management Department and the �۽�ֱ��.  The chapter also participated in The U.S. Green Building Council’s Green Apple Day of service, repainting the exterior of 10 portable classrooms at a local Elementary school. �۽�ֱ�� Students completed a Blitz Plant project where students participated in the pre-planning and planting phases of 32 native trees around the City of Chico in areas of need. Students also participated in an ACE Mentor program where �۽�ֱ�� student chapter members helped promote the construction industry amongst high school students through a project/competition over the course of a year. �۽�ֱ�� student chapters helped high school students in the planning, designing and constructing of a chicken coop. Finally, Chico State partnered with the CSU Chico Community Service Contractor Advisory Committee and local companies to re-roof Durham’s Veteran Hall which is used for many functions along with member meetings and community events. The association provided the chapter with $400.

A panel of five judges representing a cross-section of the construction industry evaluated the applications for this year’s Student Chapter Awards contest.  School groups were rated based on their accomplishments during the 2014-2015 school year.  There are approximately 180 university-level student construction groups nationwide.