Sundt Funds Construction Engineering Management Program

Sundt Construction, a longtime partner of the University of Arizona, is supporting CAEM's Construction Engineering Management program with a $250,000 endowment. UA engineering students graduate with a wealth of real-world experience, and students in the construction engineering program get an extra helping of hands-on learning by visiting construction sites, engaging with guest speakers and completing internships.

“Most people don’t know how interesting and rewarding construction is until they’re exposed to it,” said Mike Hoover, president and chief executive officer of Sundt Construction. “That’s the real value of a program like this — introducing bright young minds to an industry that offers meaningful work.”

Dean Papajohn, associate professor of practice in CAEM and head of the construction engineering management focus, said Sundt has been supportive of the program since it was first established in 2015. The company hosts construction site visits for students, provides guest speakers, and hires the program’s students as interns and employees. The company also contributed to the Beavers Heavy Construction Endowed Scholarship. While working at Sundt, some students have even had the opportunity to help build new parts of the UA.

“Our alumni and interns have worked on the UA Student Success District, as well as other UA construction projects,” Papajohn said. “Sundt employees are regular guest speakers in my classes, and they give insight from a variety of perspectives.”

The Construction Engineering Management program has expanded in many ways since its inception five years ago. Most recently, the program added a 12-unit undergraduate certificate option for students not majoring in engineering.