Construction Management Hosts 2018 Annual Awards Banquet

EKU Construction Management faculty and staff hosted the 12th Annual Recognition Banquet on April 26, 2018, to honor outstanding students, as well as those individuals and companies who have demonstrated exemplary service. This year’s reception and dinner was held in Arlington's Mule Barn. EKU President Michael Benson was on hand to greet guests and make opening remarks.

Banquet host Bryan Dyer recognized graduating students and presented scholarships and awards to students and alumni for outstanding achievement. For the past year, 100 percent of graduates were placed within nine months of graduation around the country. More important is that students are performing well and there are more jobs than students.

Keynote Speaker: Mr. Brandon Berry

Mr. Berry received his Bachelors in Construction Management in 2009 and received his MS in Applied Engineering and Technology in 2014.  He is now the Vice President of the Central Kentucky Division of Wehr Constructors Inc., in Lexington, Kentucky.

Since 2011, he has been working in the Central Kentucky Region focused almost exclusively in the healthcare arena. In 2015, he was named the Central Kentucky Operations Manager and became the director Wehr’s efforts in this market, then Vice President of the Central Kentucky Division in 2017.

Berry earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Eastern Kentucky University. He is LEED AP, BD+C Certified and is also a KSHE Certified Healthcare Contractor. His project work includes such notables as the $50 million Clark Regional Medical Center and the $30 million 21c Museum Hotel.

Awards

Outstanding Senior – Steven Cummins

Construction Management's outstanding senior for 2017-18 is Steven Cummins.  Steven is graduating with a 3.6 GPA.  He was the SCA Treasurer for 2016-2017, appeared on the Dean’s List for 7 semesters, received the Dean’s Award in 2017, and received the Ralph Whalin Scholarship.

President Volunteer Service Award 

The Construction Management Department received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award because the seniors are required to complete 30 hours of community service for their capstone class.  Many of the seniors completed work around the facility, continuously trying to improve the environment for the students after them.

All the seniors are required to do 30 hours of community service for our Capstone class. A lot of us have done the work around our facility, continuously trying to improve our environment for the better of the students after us.

Distinguished Alum

Each year, CM faculty selects s distinguished alum that has made outstanding contributions to the program and industry. This year's award was presented to Mr. Brandon Berry.

Hall of Fame Constructor

The Hall of Fame Award is given to recognize a contractor that is highly respected, has a successful business model and is an advocate for the EKU CM program. Based on these three factors, Hacker Brothers was selected as this year's Hall of Fame Contractor. 

Since 1957, Hacker Brothers has provided professional construction services in the Southeastern Kentucky and Eastern Tennessee region.  Hacker Brothers’ focus has always been the construction and renovation of buildings for public and private clients that includes many schools, university buildings, churches, governmental buildings, medical and senior care facilities, hotels, and industrial buildings.

Through the years Hacker Brothers has embraced the innovative improvements to the way projects are designed, managed and constructed and proactively supports the involvement of all stakeholders from concept through project completion.  Hacker Brothers commitment to project safety, expectation of quality and value, and the timely completion of all projects are just a few of the benchmarks of our company that has contributed to great client satisfaction.  

Student Life Community Service Award

This year’s award was awarded to Dylan Bogard.

Coop of the Year

The Coop of the Year is presented to a student who has shown exemplary service to a company during their coop experience. This award recognizes that success is not just based on academic performance but in putting their skills to work. This year the recipient was Logan Carpenter.

Faye Zimmerman Award          

This award is given for women in construction and this year’s recipient was Ravin Marrs.

Ed Swinford scholarship

This year’s scholarship was awarded to Eric May.

Brooker, AGC-KY Scholarship

This scholarship recognizes the excellence and dedication of students enrolled in the Construction Management Program in the Department of Applied Engineering and Technology. It is named in honor of Dr. Richard A. Brooker, who in 1977, along with the AGC of Kentucky, helped to establish the Bachelor of Science degree program initially titled Construction Technology. Receiving the scholarship this year was Alan Groathouse

Murray S. Riffe Scholarship, HBA-KY 

The Murray S. Riffe / Home Builders Association of Kentucky Scholarship is given in the memory of Mr. Riffe, a Georgetown, Ky., builder who was dedicated to the advancement of young people in the Kentucky construction industry. Murray Riffee served as the President of the Home Builders Association of Kentucky in 1997. During his tenure he established the Association's Workforce Development Task Force, which eventually became the Kentucky Construction Career Choice Council, made up of seven different construction associations. Riffee was named to the Kentucky Housing Hall of Fame in 2000. Receiving the scholarship this year was Robin Mckenzi.

R.L. "Bob" Erekson CM Scholarship

The Bob Erekson Scholarship was created by College of Business and Technology Dean Tom Erekson to honor a student who manages work, school and family expectations. With the unique challenges of juggling these three pieces of life the married student selected has to achieve academic success, while funding his or her own education. This year's recipient was Dustin Jasper.

Published on April 26, 2018