Industry bestows generosity on construction management students

Published 04.14.2023

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    Friday's meeting of Pennsylvania College of Technology's Construction Management Advisory Committee, many of them alumni and all of them strongly aware of the college's reliable contribution to tomorrow's workforce, featured more than thousands of dollars in student scholarships.

    Wayne R. Sheppard, assistant professor, presided over the midday ceremony in the Thompson Professional Development Center, where some of the committee's 14 contributing members presented the honors to praiseworthy students in the School of Engineering Technologies' four-year construction management major.

    Members of this year's construction management team relive for corporate advisers their performance during national competition in Florida. From left are Danielle E. Malesky, of Biglerville; Todd I. Lavish, of Chester Springs; Conor B. Laraia, of Chambersburg; Noah H. Jumper, of Shippensburg; and Michael Messina, of Nazareth.
    Members of this year's construction management team relive for corporate advisers their performance during national competition in Florida. From left are Danielle E. Malesky, of Biglerville; Todd I. Lavish, of Chester Springs; Conor B. Laraia, of Chambersburg; Noah H. Jumper, of Shippensburg; and Michael Messina, of Nazareth.

    The luncheon included a recap of the Penn College contingent's recent trip to Florida for the 2023 Student Chapter Construction Management Competition, where the team – Noah H. Jumper, of Shippensburg; Conor B. Laraia, of Chambersburg; Todd I. Lavish, of Chester Springs; Danielle E. Malesky, of Biglerville; and Michael Messina, of Nazareth – finished fourth overall.

    In individual categories, the team was second in safety; and fourth in estimating, project management and quality. (Watch PCToday for more about the competition, held as part of the Associated Builders and Contractors convention in Kissimmee, Florida.)

    "Congrats to the ABC team; the results speak for themselves," said 2004 Penn College alumnus Michael Fiore, director of project management at Leonard S. Fiore Inc. and chair of the advisory committee. Noting that the competition is among a student's most valuable experiences, both in personal development and in resume-building, he encouraged underclassmen to keep the momentum alive by recruiting a similarly cohesive team to carry on the winning tradition.

    Emerging Freshman scholarships of $1,500 each were presented by Fiore to James C. Fretz, of Collegeville, and Jason Wiedl, of West Pittston (who was unable to attend).

    Hal Gee, vice president of energy development for Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., awarded Jumper with a pair of $1,500 scholarships: one from the advisory committee and one from its endowment fund. Jumper additionally received a $1,000 Whiting-Turner scholarship presented by Jared Hoover, superintendent for Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. and a 2006 Penn College grad.

    The event also included recipients of four graduation awards, which will be officially announced as the seniors cross the Community Arts Center stage during May 13's afternoon commencement ceremony.

    Malesky will receive the Construction Management Faculty Award; Laraia will be presented with the Construction Management Advisory Committee Achievement Award and one of two NorthCentral PA Chapter Construction Specifications Institute Excellence in Construction Awards–Construction Management. The other CSI Award will go to Adam T. Roe, of Hallstead.

    Forming a perfect circle, luncheon attendees renew the timeless bonds between students and their industry mentors – many of them Penn College alumni who were similarly inspired (and often hired) by their predecessors in the profession.
    Forming a perfect circle, luncheon attendees renew the timeless bonds between students and their industry mentors – many of them Penn College alumni who were similarly inspired (and often hired) by their predecessors in the profession.
    Fretz, a first-year student and first of the day's honorees, joins Fiore near the podium.
    Fretz, a first-year student and first of the day's honorees, joins Fiore near the podium.
    Jumper shakes hands with Gee, whose experience includes part-time teaching of estimating and scheduling skills to civil engineering students at Penn College.
    Jumper shakes hands with Gee, whose experience includes part-time teaching of estimating and scheduling skills to civil engineering students at Penn College.
    A multiple honoree, the sophomore also is congratulated by Whiting-Turner's Hoover.
    A multiple honoree, the sophomore also is congratulated by Whiting-Turner's Hoover.
    Sheppard announces the imminent commencement award for Roe, an ROTC cadet who told the corporate partners of his Army Corps of Engineers internships stateside and in the Middle East. Soon to be commissioned as a second lieutenant, he is headed to helicopter flight school in Alabama.
    Sheppard announces the imminent commencement award for Roe, an ROTC cadet who told the corporate partners of his Army Corps of Engineers internships stateside and in the Middle East. Soon to be commissioned as a second lieutenant, he is headed to helicopter flight school in Alabama.
    Laraia and Brian Fish, Class of 2002, a general superintendent for Hensel Phelps Construction Co. and a member of the first Penn College construction management team to compete nationally.
    Laraia and Brian Fish, Class of 2002, a general superintendent for Hensel Phelps Construction Co. and a member of the first Penn College construction management team to compete nationally.
    Malesky, with instructor Brandon L. Group, will receive the BCM faculty award at next month's commencement. Group earned two diplomas at Penn College: an associate degree in architectural technology (2008) and a bachelor's in construction management (2010).
    Malesky, with instructor Brandon L. Group, will receive the BCM faculty award at next month's commencement. Group earned two diplomas at Penn College: an associate degree in architectural technology (2008) and a bachelor's in construction management (2010).

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