COLLEGE PROJECT FOR HUTTON EMPLOYEE EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Tiara Ewy, Hutton field engineer, was one of four students recognized for their senior group project at the Associated General Contractors of America’s 100th Annual National Convention April 1-4 in Denver.

For students in the School of Construction, senior projects come with a bit of pressure: they’ll be seen (and used) by people throughout Pittsburg and beyond.

In any given year, that’s a win-win for many reasons, says Associate Professor Joe Levens. The ability to do a real-world project gives PSU students a leg up in the job market and the chance to give back to the community.

They’ve built pavilions at the Pittsburg High School tennis complex, George Nettel’s Elementary, and the Crawford County Historical Museum. They’ve built a shower house at the RV Park north of Four Oaks Golf Course and a public restroom at Trail Head Park at 11th Street and Broadway.

But this year, one senior project was a triple-win: it gained them national recognition.

The student group, which built a new bridge on the Ruby Jack Trail north of Joplin, Missouri, will be recognized as the Outstanding Student Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America at the AGC’s 100th Annual National Convention April 1-4 in Denver.

The organization chose the PSU AGC Student Chapter as the winner of the Construction Management Skills Award.

“It speaks highly of the program and our students,” Levens said.

Student leaders were Tiara Ewy, Travis Solander, Mollie Currid, and Sean Lohman — all of whom have since graduated and landed jobs in the construction industry. Faculty support was provided by Randy Timi, Chad Crain, and Steve Schaffner.

“I was really excited,” Ewy said. “All the hard work we put into it, the late nights, the early mornings, the long days — it was great to be recognized for that.”

To read more about the project, click here.