EKU Construction Management 2014 Awards Banquet
Eastern hosted the its 9th Annual Construction Management Recognition Banquet on April 23, 2015, 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.
Dr. Arias recognized graduating seniors and presented the Distinguished Senior award to Devin Powell. After a review of program achievements, this year's Distinguished Alum, Patrick McCowan, was introduced.
McCowan, Senior Project Manager for Gray Construction and member of the Class of 2000, began his career at Gray as a field engineer. He has since completed more than a dozen large-scale projects across the U.S. As a senior project manager, he is responsible for the development and coordination of his team's project managers and participants, human resourcing, preparing annual budgets, providing action plans and trouble shooting and resolving problems. He stays on top of latest industry trends and educational opportunities through affiliation with a number of professional organizations. McCowan is vice-president on the Board of the ALS Association Kentucky Chapter, an executive member of the EKU IAB Committee, preceding president of Gray's Project Management Association (PMA), Founder of the Albert B. McCowan Memorial Golf Scramble, a member of Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America and an ambassador for Phi Delta Theta.
Following McCowan's remarks, scholarship winners from the Construction Management program were recognized amidst their peers.
More photos on the CM Facebook page...
Awards
Distinguished Senior
Special awards and presentations were made to the program's graduating seniors, including outstanding senior. The outstanding senior for 2013-15 is Devin Powell from Waco. Devin is a dual major in Spanish and Construction Management and is a concurrent enrollee in the CM Master's program.
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 Patrick McCowan, Class of 2000, and Senior Project Manager for Gray Construction.
Faye Zimmerman Award
Each year, the Faye Zimmerman award is presented to the individual woman who has made remarkable strides in breaking through the gender barrier so prevalent in construction. Indicative of such strides are exemplary service to the construction industry either through the organization to which she is employed or through a professional organization or both. Specific consideration is given to the individual's efforts to recruit women into the industry. This year's recipient is Diane Hagan.
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, 3D Enterprises was selected as this year's Hall of Fame Constructor.
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 is Chris Poynter, senior from Nicholasville, who worked for Marilla Construction.
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 is Blake Hamilton, senior from Richmond.
Murray S. Riffe Scholarship, HBA-KY
The Murray S. Riffe / Home Builders Association of Kentucky Scholarship is given in the memory of Mr. Riffee, 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 is Andrew Mcalpin, junior from Lexington.
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 own education. This year's recipient is Blake Roberts, senior from Mt. Vernon.
Babcon Electrical Apprenticeship Scholarship
The Babcon Electrical Apprenticeship Scholarship was created by Babcon Electrical in an effort to bring university students into the electrical industry through a work-enhanced apprenticeship and, more importantly, increase the interest in construction management in the electrical field. This year the recipient is Dallas Merrill, junior from Richmond.
Published on April 23, 2015