Construction Management students compete in international event

ECU students Leanna Becker, Ben Avolis, Courtney Carter, Dylan Hutchinson, Brantlee Jobe and Alex Littleton (pictured left to right) competed in the international Residential Construction Management Competition. (Contributed photo)

By Erin Acree
ECU Department of Construction Management

Six students from East Carolina University’s Department of Construction Management competed last month in the Residential Construction Management Competition at the International Builder’s Show in Las Vegas.

The 34 teams that participated from universities and colleges throughout the United States represented the top 2 percent of students in their field across the country.

The competition gave participants the opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom to a real construction project by completing a management proposal to develop a pre-selected plot of land. Proposals were submitted to a group of construction company executives who acted as judges. During the convention, students defended their proposals to the judges in front of an audience.

ECU students placed in the top half of the teams competing and they hope to be selected to compete again next year. Leanna Becker, Ben Avolis, Courtney Carter, Dylan Hutchinson, Brantlee Jobe and Alex Littleton attended. Alternates were Megan Sommer, Logan Hahm and Kacie Wolcott, who will serve on the team in 2015. Dr. Eric Connell served as advisor.

The International Builders’ Show is the premier event for National Association of Home Builders student chapters to network with builders from across the country. The competition, held during the show, gives students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to solve construction-related problems by working on real-life construction projects. There are three levels of competition: four-year programs, two-year programs and secondary school programs.