By Alyssa Patrick, College of Engineering and Architecture
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University construction management students won first place in the Associated Schools of Construction student competition for the second year in a row.
The Region 6 and 7 ASC contest took place Feb. 5-8 in Sparks, Nev., and is the largest construction management competition in the U.S. Approximately 1,200 students from 42 universities in 18 states participated.
Three WSU groups competed, and the commercial team took first place out of 15 schools from California, Oregon and Washington.
The team, coached by professor Jason Peschel, had less than 24 hours to develop a proposal for a real-life problem posed by the industry sponsor, Hensel Phelps Construction Co. To complete the proposal, students employed a variety of construction management skills including scheduling, estimating, site logistics, site safety and technical writing.
On the second day of the competition the team gave a formal presentation followed by a question and answer session. In addition to placing first last year, the team won second place in 2012.
“Placing in any category is difficult, but a first place repeat is incredible,” said Peschel, who is also program coordinator for WSU’s construction management program. “I am so proud of these students!”
The students on the commercial team were Jonathan Osman, Kyle York, Joel Palmer, Noah Martin, Ryan Garris, Haley Grunhurd and Kelsey Gardner.
Other WSU teams competed in the design-build and heavy civil categories. Though predominantly construction management students, both teams also had three architecture and construction management double majors.
“Year after year the teams consistently work hard and invest an incredible amount of time in preparation for this event,” Peschel said. “We continue to be impressed with the results of their efforts.”