Auburn University Wins the Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' Fourth Student Competition 

The student competition was part of an educational partnership with schools of construction management around the U.S.  

New Orleans—The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress has announced the team from the McWhorter School of Building Sciences at Auburn University, Auburn, Ala., was selected as the first-place winner of The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' fourth annual student construction management competition, which took place during the National Roofing Contractors Association's (NRCA) 131st Annual Convention held Feb. 6-8 in New Orleans. 

Members of the winning team were Jordan Edwards, Alexander Gomez, Jason McCay (team captain), Hannah Redifer and faculty advisor Lauren Redden. 

Redifer also was selected as the recipient of the competition's first Best Individual Presenter from among all the finalist teams and received an iPad. 

The competition was part of an educational partnership with schools of construction management around the U.S. The four finalist teams selected to present in New Orleans were McWhorter School of Building Sciences at Auburn University; Department of Construction Management at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.; M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Construction Management at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.; and Bert S. Turner Department of Construction Management at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La. 

The goal of the partnership is to raise awareness of the roofing industry by developing roofing-related curriculum that can be incorporated into existing construction management undergraduate degree programs, exploring scholarship programs for both students and faculty members and developing an internship program with interested Alliance members. 

Teams participating in the competition were presented with a problem statement: Create a company to bid on installing a roof system on the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. Each team was required to research the project, review the plans and specifications, and assemble a full estimate and proposal to submit a qualified bid package. For this project, it was important to decide on the correct application methods, show overall roofing knowledge and illustrate the team was prepared to undertake the project. 

Oral presentations were given at the convention Feb. 7. 

Auburn had the highest cumulative score for their presentation as Summit Roofing. The team had a thorough understanding of site logistics and schedule; exhibited a strong safety plan that included planning, training and execution; and spent a great deal of time preparing the presentation. 

The team from Colorado State University was awarded second place in the competition. Team members were Majoney Bajwa, Kyle Bloesser, Sam Hughes (team captain), Ben Jacobs and faculty advisor Nick Rubino. 

Auburn University received a team trophy and a $5,000 L.B. Conway scholarship for their school. The team trophy and individual awards were presented during NRCA's Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception March 2. 

Colorado State University received a team trophy, a $2,500 scholarship for its school and individual awards. 

For more information about the Alliance student competition, contact Bennett Judson, the Alliance's executive director, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7513 or bjudson@roofingindustryalliance.net. 

About the Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress was established within the National Roofing Foundation (NRF) to create an endowment fund to serve as a highly focused resource for the roofing industry and its customers. The Alliance's objectives are to conduct research and education projects that support high quality programs for roofing contractors; ensure timely and forward-thinking industry responses to major economic and technological issues; and enhance the long-term viability and attractiveness of the industry to roofing workers. The Alliance also reached out to the roofing community and its members and helps fund efforts dedicated to good works and charitable giving. More information about the Alliance is available at www.roofingindustryalliance.net.