2020 Student Competition

The Roofing Alliance hosted its sixth Construction Management Student Competition.

Eight teams competed in our 2019-20 Construction Management Student Competition—three of which were new schools. The schools that participated were:

Auburn University, The McWhorter School of Building Science, Auburn, Ala.
Bradley University, Peoria, Ill.
Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
Colorado State University, Department of Construction, Fort Collins, Colo.
Kennesaw State University, Marietta, Ga.
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Texas A&M, College Station, Texas
University of Florida, M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Building Construction, Gainesville, Fla.

The McWhorter School of Building Science at Auburn University

From left to right: Samuel Short, Oliver Reinwald, Rachel Nemecek (team captain) and Davis Hambrick Not pictured: Walker Lott (alternate)
Faculty advisor: Lauren Redden
Team mentor: Kyle Thomas, Thomas Roofing Co. Inc., Mobile, Ala.

Bradley University

From left to right: Jacob Settles (team captain), Chance Emanuels, Benjamim Maust and Caden Lansford
Faculty advisor: Dr. Souhail Elhour
Team mentor: Laurie Moore, Kreiling Roofing Co., Peoria, Ill.

Clemson University—NEW

From left to right: David Compton, Patrick McLeod (alternate), Hallie Bowers, Hendrix Smith and Brad Smith (team captain)
Faculty advisor: Dr. Dhaval Gajjar
Team mentor: Nicholas Hotze, Guy Roofing Inc., Spartanburg, S.C.

The Department of Construction Management at Colorado State University

From left to right: Paul Cheever, Christopher Vargas, Jake Peckham and Brendan Phelan (team captain). Not pictured Mahoney Bajwa (alternate).
Faculty advisor: Nick Rubino
Team mentor: Kent Nelson, Front Range Roofing Systems LLC., Greeley, Colo.

Kennesaw State University

From left to right: Maxim Downs, Cynia Gardner, Jazzmin Evans (team captain) and Biancha Clarritt
Faculty advisor: Ali Keyvanfar
Team mentor: Candace Klein, Klein Contracting Corp., Doraville, Ga.

Ohio State University—NEW

From left to right: Brady Jackson (alternate), Matt Korzenko, David Swain (team captain),  Mackenzie Lange and Kin Sanders-Evans
Faculty advisor: Michael Brown
Team mentor: Joseph Sanderlin, Chemcote, Inc., Dublin, Ohio.

Texas A&M University—NEW

From left to right: Austin Davis (alternate), Erbey Hernandez, Tyler Stivers (team captain), Collin Rosser and Kyler Hardison
Faculty advisor: Lance Simms
Team mentor: Mark Standifer, King of Texas Roofing Company LP, Grand Prairie, Texas.

The M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Building Construction at the University of Florida

From left to right: Ricardo Madero, Eric Biggs, Palmer Collins, Tony Centro (team captain) and Collin Galinas (alternate)
Faculty advisor: Jim Sullivan
Team mentor: Rob Springer, Springer-Peterson Roofing + Sheet Metal Inc., Eaton Park, Fla.

We thank all of the Roofing Alliance and NRCA members who served as team mentors. Mentors serve as a resource guiding the students and faculty through the project/process, answering questions and educating the students about the different elements of the project, products, systems, etc.—to help them formulate their own proposals and on-site presentations. Mentors have one or two face-to-face meetings with the team and faculty. If possible (but not required), mentors invite the team to their offices to meet their estimators and project managers and to a job site to give them perspective of a typical workday.

We thank Keith Post and Steve Little with KPost Company, Dallas for providing the project for the 2020 competition.

The teams had to bid to install a new roof system on the Ford Center, the indoor practice facility of the Dallas Cowboys. The Ford Center is part of the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters in Frisco, Texas.

This was a rather large and difficult facility that was designed, bid and built in phases. The teams were asked initially to provide a proposal for the Multi-Use and Indoor Practice Facility. The goal was to award this package and potentially negotiate the Headquarters, Retail, and Hotel construction once design was completed.

For this project, the roofing subcontractor was expected to include all insulation, TPO roofing, PVC roofing, and associated sheet metal flashing assemblies. Exterior metal wall panels and all rooftop paver assemblies were to be excluded from the Roofing scope of work.

The Ford Center project was awarded based on the total price and overall project approach for this first phase. The teams were to break out their pricing indicating the Multi-Use and Indoor Practice Facilities separately.

Awards

1st place team: Texas A&M University

  • A team trophy and a $5,000 L. B. Conway scholarship for the winning school
  • Individual trophies

2nd place team: Colorado State University

  • A team trophy and a $2,500 scholarship for the winning school
  • Individual trophies

Best Individual Student Presenter: Samuel Short, Auburn University

  • $500 paid via Venmo

Winning Team of "Expo Run": Clemson University

  • $25 Amazon gift cards for each student and faculty advisor on the winning team

Winners:

  • Were recognized in press releases sent to local and national media and roofing industry trade press
  • Were acknowledged in Professional Roofing magazine
  • Are listed on the Roofing Alliance's website

Questions about the competition can be directed to:
The Roofing Alliance
10255 W. Higgins Road, Suite 600
Rosemont, IL 60018
Bennett Judson (847) 299-9070, ext. 7513; bjudson@roofingalliance.net
Jessica Priske (847) 299-9070, ext. 7517; jpriske@roofingalliance.net