The National Association of Home Builders student chapter at Kennesaw State University placed first in the nation and received several other distinctions at a construction management competition held earlier this month.
Myles Cardenas, chapter president, led the six-member KSU team — along with three non-presenting members — in creating a 100-page business proposal and presenting their work to residential construction company executives who served as judges during the three-day competition.
Cardenas, who also received the NAHB’s Outstanding Student Award this year, said that the 2017 NAHB Student Chapters Residential Construction Management Competition at the International Builders Show was one of the best experiences of her life.
“I cannot thank those who were involved enough for preparing us to take on a moment that I will never forget,” Cardenas said. “Being able to represent Kennesaw State University, our [Construction Management] Department, and the present and future of the student body has been a pleasure, and I am honored to have had the opportunity.”
The annual competition attracted more than 1,000 students, composing 60 teams, who each completed a management proposal encompassing residential product components. The proposals typically involve all aspects of residential construction management, including:
- market analysis.
- product and site design.
- project schedule and estimates.
- financial analysis.
- green building initiatives.
- project management overview.
- sales and marketing strategies.
For the first time, chapter advisors and construction management professors Charner Rodgers and Brandi Williams brought home a 2017 National Housing Endowment HELP Grant, providing the university’s Construction Management Department with $60,000 over three years. The grant will help to further programs of study in residential construction at KSU.
“The team was definitely making waves at this competition,” Rodgers said.
The team was also recognized as the 2017 NAHB Outstanding Student Chapter for the second consecutive year, earning the top award among 160 student chapters across the nation.
This year’s participants included:
- Construction management major Rebecca Barber
- Construction management major Christopher Kim
- Construction management major Christy Graham
- Construction management major Murray Calhoun V
- Construction management major Afelle Petersen
- Construction engineering major Victoria Carnes
- Construction management major Tyler Dees
- Mechatronics major William Davis
The KSU NAHB student chapter was created in 2014 and first entered the competition in 2015, placing 23rd. Last year, the team took 10th place.
