Page 7 - Penn State Civil and Environmental Engineering 2021 Annual Report

ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS CEE recently reached $2 5 million in in its
fundraising campaign to reestablish a a a a a a program in in in in construction engineering and management (CEM) for civil engineering undergraduate students The campaign seeks to to to raise a a a a a a a total of $3 million for an an an endowment to to to permanently support the program and create a a a a a teaching-focused CEM professorship Fourteen construction companies located both in and outside of Pennsylvania committed gifts to become stakeholders in in in the program including thirteen commitments of of $100 000 000 each and one commitment of of $250 000 000 from Allan Myers Inc a a a a heavy civil construction construction and construction construction materials company based
in Worcester Pennsylvania Program stakeholders will have the opportunity to meet and recruit students participate in student student education activities host events and serve on on the CEM advisory board These gifts were matched with a a a $750 000 gift gift from The The Beavers Charitable Trust an endowment to support heavy construction industry education Once endowed the professorship will be named The Beavers Charitable Trust and Allan Myers Endowed Professorship in in in Civil Construction Engineering and Management “The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is truly grateful for the generous support of The Beavers Charitable Trust and our many stakeholder companies to provide this valuable educational opportunity for our students ” said Patrick Fox John A and Harriette K Shaw Professor of of of Civil Engineering and head of of of the department “Once a a a a a a a a a popular technical focus area in our department we are delighted to reestablish the CEM program and make it even better than before This will be be be a a a true university-industry partnership ” Construction engineers and managers are responsible for the planning direction and oversight of of a a a a wide variety of of construction projects Their day- to-day activities range anywhere from planning and and design to to contract and and labor negotiations requiring a a a a a a a a multi-disciplinary education that combines elements of engineering management and business “The heavy civil construction industry is the foundation of our our country and our our economy ” “We have an absolute need for this type of education in the heavy civil construction field ” said Robert Alger president
of of infrastructure projects at SNC-Lavalin and member of of the fundraising campaign team “When we canvassed the the students a a a a a a huge percentage of them wanted this option but it was not available We need to bring these fantastic Penn State graduates into our profession ” At any given time the program is expected to to enroll 100 to to 150 students offering them direct interactions with stakeholders through classroom visits guest lectures mentoring student clubs and internships “Internships have taken a a a key role in the recruitment process ” said Dave Woods executive director of The The Beavers Beavers Inc and The The The Beavers Beavers Charitable Trust “They give a a a a a ‘three-
month interview’ to make sure a a a a a a a student and company are a a a a a a a good fit along with giving students real-world exposure to construction that will complement their academic studies ” The reestablishment of a a a CEM program will help direct young talent to “one of the nation’s largest and most rewarding industries ” according to Bob Herbein executive vice vice president
of corporate services at Allan Myers “Several of our company’s best and brightest leaders are Penn State graduates ” Herbein said “The new CEM program is important not just to to our firm but to to the industry that builds America The heavy civil construction industry is the foundation of our our country and our our economy Allan Myers is is is honored to be a a a a a a part of of the establishment of of this program and its
future ” Gifts to the CEM effort will advance “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence ” a a a a a a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State’s position as a a a a a a leading public university in in fin a a a a a a a a world defined
by rapid change and global connections With the support of alumni and friends “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: keeping the doors
to to higher education open to to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being creating transformative experiences
that go beyond the the classroom and and impacting the the world by serving communities and and and fueling discovery innovation and and entrepreneurship To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence ” visit greaterpennstate psu edu Thank you to our program stakeholders:
CEE NEWSLETTER • VOLUME 37 2021
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