More than $10,000 in year-end student scholarships were presented Thursday at a meeting of Penn College's Construction Management Advisory Committee, an exciting milestone heralded by department head Wayne R. Sheppard.
The assistant professor presided over a lunchtime awards ceremony in Penn's Inn, where various committee members – industry partners who advise faculty and the administration on issues ranging from curriculum to equipment to internship opportunities – presented the honors to a deserving cadre of four-year construction management students.
The afternoon included a summary of a Penn College team's recent trip to San Antonio for the 2022 Student Chapter Construction Management Competition, a marquee national event that was championed by committee members for its value to the college program's credibility and for the development of the students themselves.
Stephanie Schmidt, president of Poole Anderson Construction and chair of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ national board of directors, saw the team in action, and noted its "poise, intelligence and ability to answer any and all questions."
Among other cheerleaders was Brian J. Fish, a general superintendent for Hensel Phelps Construction Co. and a 2002 alumnus, who was a member of the college's first construction management team to compete nationally. He applauded the group's participation, which he said is perhaps second only to internships in giving students a real-life look at their chosen career.
Awarded scholarships of $2,250 each were Brian James Adams, of Holland, CMAC Award; and Conor B. Laraia, of Chambersburg, and Danielle Elizabeth Malesky, of Biglerville, BCM Endowed Awards. All were presented by Kevin Snoke, executive vice president of Quandel Construction Group.
Hayden Charles Woland, of Watsontown, was awarded a $1,000 Whiting-Turner scholarship and a $750 Emerging Freshman scholarship. They were presented by Jared Hoover, superintendent for Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., and 2004 alumnus Michael Fiore, director of project management at Leonard S. Fiore Inc.
Schmidt presented Isaiah Paul Barney, of Shinglehouse, with a $1,000 CMAC Award and Cody James Smith, of Honesdale, with an Endowed Award.
The event also included the imminent recipients of three graduation awards, which will become official during May 14 commencement ceremonies.
Tom A. Grates IV, of Tarentum, will receive the Construction Management Faculty Award and one of two NorthCentral PA Chapter Construction Specifications Institute Excellence in Construction Awards–Construction Management.
The second CSI Award will go to Rudy C. Shadle. of Mechanicsburg.
Chosen for this spring's Construction Management Advisory Committee Achievement Award is Charlee R. Marshall, of Snow Shoe.
Those honors were presented by James Craft, operations manager for James Craft & Son Inc.; Fish; and construction management instructor Bradley M. Martin.