A group of SE Campus construction students won best rookie honors during a residential construction management competition in Orlando, Fla., in January.
Students Thomas Gunter, Joshua Barnes, Mark Oaxaca and Stephen Gordon were tasked with proposing a house in front of a panel of experts in hopes of getting funding for their project.
“Essentially, we were contractors presenting a home,” Oaxaca said. “It’s experience presenting to an owner.”
The group received best rookie honors, and Gunter was given an outstanding student award.
“We were not expecting to win anything,” said Orlando Bagcal, SE construction assistant professor and trip sponsor.
The group was so convinced, Bagcal said, that they sat at the back of the hall during the awards ceremony.
Bagcal funded the trip through a pair of scholarships — $800 from the National Homebuilders Institute in Washington, D.C., and a $500 student grant from student services.
The SE construction and architectural engineering department wants to make a return trip.
“They’re planning on going again next year,” Gordon said. “It’s a different team every year.”
— Joshua Knopp
