Building Science Student to Serve as CADC’s Summer Commencement Marshal

Justin Schwab of the McWhorter School of Building Science has been selected as the student marshal for the College of Architecture, Design and Construction at Auburn University’s summer 2021 commencement ceremony, scheduled for August 6-7.

Schwab, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for five years as a flight equipment technician, will receive a Bachelor of Science in building science. He served as president of the Auburn Student Veterans Association and event coordinator for Operation Iron Ruck—a partnership with the University of Alabama to raise awareness for veteran mental health and suicide prevention—and was involved with the Student Veterans of America Leadership Institute.

Schwab was also a member of the IHSA Equestrian Team, the Chartered Institute of Building competition team and the Iota chapter of the international construction honor society Sigma Lambda Chi. After graduation, he will work as a senior project associate with Miller Electric Company in Fort Walton Beach.

“I chose building science because I have always had a fondness for building things,” said Schwab, who worked as a government contractor for seven years before arriving in Auburn in 2018. “Like many people majoring in building science, it all started with Legos as a child and just grew from there. Plus there’s just something really cool about seeing a plot of land transform into a building.”

“While a mainstay of the Veterans Resource Center and member of the ASVA since his arrival, his leadership skills were tested immediately upon assuming the 2020-2021 presidency as the pandemic set in across the globe,” said retired U.S. Navy Capt. Paul “Puck” Esposito, director of Auburn’s Veterans Resource Center. “The continued success and growth of the ASVA during the pandemic can be directly contributed to his governance. His quick decision-making was paramount to safeguarding the 3rd Annual Operation Iron Ruck (OIR), a 151-mile awareness campaign where student veterans from Auburn and Alabama ruck-march from the visitor’s football stadium to the home team’s stadium to raise awareness for the veteran suicide epidemic.”

“Justin is an outstanding student and a clear leader among his classmates,” said Professor Paul Holley of the McWhorter School of Building Science. “Having had a military career before returning to school, he is a role model for his work ethic, organization and people skills.”