By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Construction management students and faculty at the University of Nebraska at Kearney won numerous awards at the 2014 National Association of Home Builders International Builders’ Show.
Ken Larson, a construction management professor at UNK, was given the Outstanding Educator Award at the national event in Las Vegas. In his 23rd year at UNK, Larson is one of the founding fathers of the university’s construction management program.
In 1995, he also helped establish UNK’s Epsilon Pi Tau chapter, the international honor society for individuals in technology professions. Larson served on the international board of directors for the organization from 2002-05 and was responsible for overseeing chapters in South America and Central America.
Larson’s areas of expertise include energy efficient/sustainable housing and building materials applications. He teaches courses on building systems, electrical-mechanical systems, statics and strength of materials and others in construction education.
UNK won second place in the Outstanding Student Chapter category at the national convention, topping 118 other teams for the award. Colin Millar, a senior construction management major from Colorado, won the Outstanding Student Award.
The UNK construction management program was also awarded the Homebuilders in Education Leadership Program grant for $64,000. This is the second time UNK earned this grant. The three-year grant will be used to develop curriculum and pay for students to earn Certified Green Professional Designation. UNK is one of fewer than 10 universities in the U.S. to offer such a class.
“The recognition given to the program by the National Housing Endowment is truly an honor,” said Nathan Barry, assistant professor of construction management. “It is a reflection of the hard work that the faculty and students put in on a daily basis.
“To know that we are one of only a few schools to ever be awarded the grant multiple times reaffirms what we’re doing and highlights the outstanding students that graduate from our construction management program.”
Other recognition the UNK Construction Management program has received in 2013-14:
- Associated Schools of Construction Region IV
- Excellence in Teaching Award – Nathan Barry
- 6th Place – Design-Build Team
- 5th Place – Heavy Highway Team
- American Concrete Institute
- Organized first ACI student chapter in Nebraska
- Named ACI Excellent University
- ACI Nebraska Outstanding Student – Jared Pettit, senior construction management major
- Top 25 in Pervious Concrete at the International Student Competition
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Source: Nathan Barry, 308-865-8733, barryna@unk.edu
Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.edu
