Report on Construction Institute Student Days From Abigail Davidson
Hope all is going well back in Arizona, with everyone getting ready for a new school year! I'm reaching out to update you on an incredible opportunity and experience I have just had the privilege of participating in.
A few months ago Dr. Kundu informed me of a student conference run by the Construction Institute of ASCE. I applied and was one of 36 accepted out of over 100 applicants. This year’s conference was in the great city of Boston.
Put into groups of six, we were tasked with preparing a complete bid proposal and presentation for the construction of a pedestrian bridge in Boston. This experience brought together individuals with varying experience and backgrounds for the purpose of performing and delivering the best quality project.
After working for more than 36 hours straight with no sleep, we finished the bid and presentation, along with the 11 addenda that were sent out as late as five minutes before the time to submit. I managed the schedule of the project, which took up pretty much my entire time. I also contributed to the risk analysis, community outreach and traffic control plans.
The presentation we delivered went very well, and my group and I efficiently answered the challenging questions that followed. The judging team included six professionals, all with knowledge of the project, which is currently in the construction phase.
Awards were presented to the winning team, as well as to the one individual from each team who presented the best. Our team finished second with an honorable mention, and I was named the outstanding presenter for my team. As a result, I am invited to attend the Construction Institute Summit in March 2017 in Anaheim, California.
Throughout this entire experience I wore my UA gear with so much pride. I was constantly referring to my textbooks, notes and knowledge from construction classes I was fortunate enough to take with professor Papajohn. I was reminded of the mock bid and site visits that we took and felt prepared for the task at hand. I learned a lot, especially the pressure of a realistic bidding experience!
I'd like to conclude by thanking you all. I begin with Turner at the end of September and I've never felt so excited. I hope you will keep in mind the opportunities ASCE and subgroups like the Construction Institute have for students and recent grads. I urge you to promote these conferences to students so our school and department can be represented.
Thank you for reading and best wishes for another great school year. I'm missing Tucson already!
Sincerely,
Abby
Class of 2016
P.S. ASCE has prepared a short video on CI’s Student Days. Check it out!