The Roofing Alliance Announces the 2021 Student Competition Participants

Seven schools are vying for five final positions to compete virtually in the 2021 competition.

The Roofing Alliance, the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), proudly announces the participating universities in its 2021 Construction Management Student Competition.  Celebrating its seventh year, the competition had seven schools submit their intention to participate.  Five finalist teams will be announced on the week of March 8 and will then compete virtually for the prestigious competition’s first place award.

The competition is made up of two components.  The first component is the written proposal, which is due February 8, 2021.  The teams will be bidding to install a new roof system on the lower levels of the new construction of the Las Vegas Raiders Indoor Practice Facility in Henderson, Nevada.  With the support of Commercial Roofers of Las Vegas who initially roofed the project, the competition consists of multiple buildings including the Field House where the team practices, a Performance Building, Office Space and Maintenance Building

The second component of the competition is oral presentations.  Typically, the finalist teams come to the International Roofing Expo® where they give in-person presentations but due to safety concerns, this year the finalist teams will present virtually the week of April 5, 2021.  The oral presentations will be recorded and shared on Facebook once all teams have presented.  Winners will be announced in a virtual event taking place April 16, 2021. 

The Roofing Alliance is proud to present this year’s student teams.  Out of the seven, six schools are returning, and one is new – California Polytechnic State University.  This year’s participating schools include:

Auburn University, McWhorter School of Building Science, Auburn University, Ala.
Team members include Logan Bozeman, Walker Lott (team captain), Libby Reid, Joey White (alternate) and Steward Wilkes; faculty coach is Associate Professor Junshan Liu; team mentor is Paige Harvill, Nations Roof LLC, Mobile, Alabama.

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Team members include Shay O’Laughlin, Ryan Proctor (captain), Chloe Riddlespurger (alternate), Jane Runte and Shaina Suanico; faculty coach is Dr. Jeong Woo; team mentor is Rudy Gutierrez, Shell Roofing Solutions, Chino, California.

Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
Team members include Allison O’Toole, Declan Fay, Hendrix Smith (alternate), Luke Skertich (captain), and Hannah Smith; faculty coach is Dr. Dhaval Gajjar; team mentor is Will Fort, Bone Dry Roofing, North Charleston, South Carolina.

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.
Team members include Kendall Carter, Terry Copperman (alternate), Joshua Houser (captain), Jacob Scheider and Mackenzie Voshage; faculty coach is Nicholas Rubino; team mentor is Kent Nelson, Front Range Roofing Systems LLC, Greeley, Colorado.

Kennesaw State University
Team members include Braxton Peterson, Fortino Padilla (alternate), Maxim Downs (captain), Madlyn Wright and Cory Reeves; faculty coach is Ali Keyvanfar; team mentor is Geoff Mitchell, Mid-south Roof Systems, Atlanta, Georgia.

Texas A&M University
Team members include Bryce Sniderwin (alternate), Collin Rosser(captain), David Hermann, Graham Eldridge, Kyler Hardison; faculty coach is Lance Simms; team mentor is Mark Standifer, King of Texas Roofing Company LP, Grand Prairie, Texas.

University of Florida
Team members include Garrett Spicola, Ansley Spofford (alternate), Collin Galinas (captain), Kyle Mueller and Bobby Swentkofske; faculty coach is Jim Sullivan; team mentor is Rob Springer, Springer-Peterson 
Roofing + Sheet Metal Inc., Eaton Park, Florida.

To learn more about the Roofing Alliance Construction Management Student Competition and how to attend virtually, visit www.roofingalliance.net or contact Bennett Judson, the Roofing Alliance’s executive director, at bjudson@roofingalliance.net.

About the Roofing Alliance
The Roofing Alliance is committed to shaping the industry’s future by funding education, research, scholarships and philanthropic initiatives, all for the purpose of securing the industry’s future excellence.  Composed of 174 members representing extraordinary leaders from the contracting, manufacturing, distribution and service provider communities, the Roofing Alliance has committed $13 million to enhance the performance and long-term viability of the industry and allocated more than $5.9 million to fund 51 research, education, technical and philanthropic programs and projects.  Serving as the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Roofing Alliance members are focused on giving back and supporting high-quality educational programs and ensuring timely and forward-thinking industry responses to major economic and technological issues. For more information about Roofing Alliance initiatives, visit www.roofingalliance.net.