SUNY Delhi Team Finishes Fourth at National Home Builders Competition

DELHI, NY (03/25/2017) (readMedia)-- SUNY Delhi's student chapter of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) captured fourth place in the two-year NAHB Student Competition at the recent International Builders Show in Orlando, FL. This marks the second consecutive year Delhi students have placed in the top five and the third year in the top 10.

"I am very proud of these students," said Alex Brownell, Residential Construction Instructor. Brownell was a coach of the two-year team and is the club advisor. "They are competing against some of the biggest and best construction schools in the nation and Delhi ranks among the best. The real-life learning experiences and connections that they make with industry professionals at the Builders Show are second to none."

SUNY Delhi students worked throughout the fall semester to complete a residential construction management proposal for the competition. In Orlando, they presented their proposal to a panel of construction company executives and defended it before an audience.

The team consisted of Residential Construction students Matt Millham of East Meredith, Daniel Distasio of Bernardsville, Antone Samson of Chenango Forks, Nate Kugler of Valatie and Chris Wadeson of Hancock. Faculty coaches Alex Brownell and Gary Brackett, Professor of Construction Technology and Management, accompanied the students to Orlando.

SUNY Delhi received a $100,000 grant from NAHB in 2014 to introduce a Residential Construction Management concentration for students of its bachelor degree program in Construction Management. The program launched in the fall of 2016 and is giving students a new career option in this fast-growing industry.

Delhi was the first college in the United States to offer a construction program in 1933 and continues to rank among the top schools in the Northeast for construction degrees. With a blend of technical and business curricula, its Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management program provides a pathway to a successful career in any sector of the industry, with nearly 100 percent job placement. Delhi's Residential Construction associate degree programs train skilled craftspeople to enter the field of residential construction, remodeling, or woodworking. Both programs emphasize hands-on learning and real-world experience through internships and community partnerships.