Landscape Architect Articles

AGC Honors Three University Student Chapters02-03-16 | News

AGC Honors Three University Student Chapters
Recipients Recognized For Community Service

Iowa State University, Oregon State University and California State University Chico each received an Outstanding Student Chapter award from the Associated General Contractors of America.

The Associated General Contractors of America has honored student groups at three universities for their civic efforts and enriching the lives of the people in their communities.

Iowa State University, Oregon State University and California State University Chico each received an Outstanding Student Chapter award.

The awards establish these schools as the nation's top collegiate construction associations this year, the AGC said in a news release.

"These student chapters have demonstrated exceptional skill and experience that will serve them "?u and our industry "?u well into the future," said Chuck Greco, president and chairman of the AGC. "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."

The Iowa State University AGC student chapter, with 67 members, was selected as the top student group, largely for its work repairing homes in the Ames community, as well as communities in need in Tennessee and Nevada. They assisted over 10 families in need during the school year.

Home repair projects included roof repair, interior wall framing, installation of insulation and drywall, painting, trim work, winter weatherization and building handicap ramps.

Iowa received a cash award of $1,500 from the AGC to help fund future projects.

The Oregon State University AGC student chapter was selected as the second-best student group. OSU students created the first high school AGC 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 that included donating food to their local youth homeless shelter, partnering with Habitat for Humanity, and helping build a surgical center in Haiti.

OSU received a $750 award from the association.

California State University Chico's AGC student chapter was named the nation's third-best student construction group. It completed multiple community service projects.

Chico participated in Career GPS, a one-day event exposing 6,000 regional high school students to Chico State's Construction Management Department and the AGC. 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.

AGC 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 AGC student chapter members helped promote the construction industry among high school students through a project/competition over the course of a year.

Chico AGC also 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, meetings and community events.

CSU Chico received a $400 cash award.

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.