BSCI Competition Teams Celebrate National and International Wins

The resulting student awards included two first place finishes, four second-place finishes, a third-place finish and a Best Presentation Award. Construction management competitions, however, offer more than accolades—they provide students with an opportunity to improve critical skills, including team building, project estimation, scheduling, safety planning and construction problem-solving. Participation also hones students’ presentation and organizational abilities, preparing them for real-world challenges.

“By participating in competitions, I not only have felt more equipped in my classes, but also in my internships and work experience, and even my personal life,” said Alli Ayers, a senior in Building Science. “By being exposed to unique project-delivery methods that we do not get to practice in class…(and by) opportunities to practice my skills in specific areas such as scheduling and estimating, I have felt more equipped in the classroom and confident in my abilities.”

Success Across the Pond: ASC Region 8

Seventeen students had the unique opportunity to represent BSCI in this year’s Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 8 competition, held in Dublin, Ireland. Before diving into the competition, students enjoyed a memorable sightseeing tour in the United Kingdom. Once in Dublin, they turned their attention to the task at hand, spending the first day developing project proposals and presenting their solutions to the judges the following day.

The results highlighted the strength of teamwork and scholarship among BSCI students.

In the Design-Build category, Tom Leathem, BSCI Undergraduate Program Chair and Associate Professor, led a team partnered with TU Dublin to secure first place. Associate Professor Alan Bugg’s team also partnered with TU Dublin, this time in the Project Management category, earning a second-place finish. Another team, led by Senior Lecturer Hunter McGonagill collaborated with Liverpool John Moores University, taking second place in the Construction Management-Quantity Surveying division.

Additional teams gained valuable experience through their participation. Associate Professor Wes Collins and BSCI School Head Richard Burt led a Design-Build team alongside Liverpool John Moores University, while Professor Paul Holley guided a Construction Management-Quantity Surveying team.

Stateside Success: ASC Regions 2 and 3

In ASC Region 2, held in Greenville, South Carolina, Senior Lecturer Bob Muir’s Design-Build team earned first place, while another Design-Build team, led by Collins and Ph.D. students Farnaz Jafari and Shadi Alathamneh, secured second place. Associate Professor Eric Wetzel led a team in the Heavy Civil division to a third-place finish, and Senior Lecturer Drew Yantis’s Commercial team earned the Best Presentation award. Additionally, one BSCI student participated in ASC’s Alternate Leadership Competition, which brings together students from multiple universities to form teams on the day of the competition. The Alternate Leadership Competition provides an excellent opportunity for students with little to no competition experience to gain valuable exposure, making it an ideal stepping stone for those eager to build their confidence in a competitive setting. Thirty students representing eight institutions participated in this year’s Alternate Leadership Competition, and the team that included one of BSCI’s own took second place.

In ASC Region 3, held in Chicago, Illinois, Associate Professor Lauren Redden coached a team in the Preconstruction category, where students tackled the complexities of planning and budgeting for a high-rise multi-family construction project. Their work included a feasibility study, budget development, site analysis and timeline planning.

Building Skills and Relationships

BSCI competition teams provide students with invaluable hands-on experience, exposure to industry professionals and the opportunity to collaborate with peers from around the world. These experiences equip students with the skills and confidence to excel at Auburn and beyond.

“…As we were presenting, it did not feel like six random students who worked on this project…” Ayers said, “but instead felt like a unified project team within a company…When they announced that we won, it was the best feeling ever to know that not only…(did we become) great friends, but that our strength in unity paid off.”