Annual Awards Banquet 2009

Date: March 26, 2009

The Construction Science Department held its annual Scholarship & Awards Banquet on March 26, 2009 at the Hilton in College Station, TX. The evening began with the scholarship ceremony, with the department awarding 148 scholarships totaling $194,250. The scholarships that were awarded will be used for the 2009-2010 academic year. We would like to thank all of the donors for their generous support of our program and our students. Sigma Lambda Chi also held their spring induction ceremony at this event. There were 28 new members inducted. Sigma Lambda Chi is the International Construction Honor Society that provides recognition to outstanding students in construction science curricula.

Scholarship recipients, scholarship donors, special guests, faculty, and staff attended a dinner and awards ceremony immediately following the scholarship ceremony. There were three student awards presented in the following categories: Outstanding Graduate Student awarded to Vardhaman Vilas Bora; Gene Murphree Outstanding Undergraduate awarded to Rex Lundeen; and the Cumberland Craftsman Award awarded to Robert Will. Three faculty awards were also presented. Dr. David Bilbo received the Educator of the Year Award; Professor Robert “Bob” Segner received the Student Advocate of the Year Award; and Dr. Julian Kang received the Outstanding Research & Scholarly Activity Award. Every year the department awards an industry member with the Constructor Hall of Fame Award. This year’s recipient was David Preston, Vice President of Human Resources for Balfour Beatty Construction. The guest speaker at this year’s event was Mr. John Kinney, Senior Public Policy Advisor. Mr. Kinney works at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell, & Berkowitz, PC in Washington, DC.

We would like to thank everyone who attended the Construction Science Department’s Annual Scholarship & Awards Banquet and congratulate all the students who received scholarships and awards. The Scholarship & Awards Banquet in 2010 will be held on April 8 at the College Station Hilton.

Students patiently waiting to receive their scholarships.

Students patiently waiting to receive their scholarships.

Students being presented with the scholarship they received.

Students being presented with the scholarship they received.

Students who were inducted into Sigma Lambda Chi.

Students who were inducted into Sigma Lambda Chi.

Students and companies during the Spring 2009 Awards Banquet dinner.

Students and companies during the Spring 2009 Awards Banquet dinner.

The Spring 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student was Vardhaman Vilas Bora. Pictured left to right: Joe Horlen, Vardhaman Vilas Bora, and Julian Kang.

The Spring 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student was Vardhaman Vilas Bora. Pictured left to right: Joe Horlen, Vardhaman Vilas Bora, and Julian Kang.

The Spring 2009 recipient of the Gene Murphree Outstanding Undergraduate Student was Rex Lundeen. Pictured left to right: Joe Horlen, Rex Lundeen, and Debra Ellis.

The Spring 2009 recipient of the Gene Murphree Outstanding Undergraduate Student was Rex Lundeen. Pictured left to right: Joe Horlen, Rex Lundeen, and Debra Ellis.

The Spring 2009 recipient Cumberland Craftsman Award was Robert Will. Picture left to right: Joe Horlen, Robert Will, and Debra Ellis.

The Spring 2009 recipient Cumberland Craftsman Award was Robert Will. Picture left to right: Joe Horlen, Robert Will, and Debra Ellis.

David Bilbo received the Outstanding Educator of the Year Award for 2009. Pictured left to right: Joe Horlen, Minette Bilbo, and Andrew Pitcher. Dr. Bilbo was unable to attend, his wife, Minette accepted the award on his behalf.

David Bilbo received the Outstanding Educator of the Year Award for 2009. Pictured left to right: Joe Horlen, Minette Bilbo, and Andrew Pitcher. Dr. Bilbo was unable to attend, his wife, Minette accepted the award on his behalf.

Bob Segner was the 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Student Advocate Award. Pictured left to right: Joe Horlen, Bob Segner, and Kyle Louderback.

Bob Segner was the 2009 recipient of the Outstanding Student Advocate Award. Pictured left to right: Joe Horlen, Bob Segner, and Kyle Louderback.

Dr. Julian Kang received the 2009 award for Scholarly Activity and Research. Pictured left to right: Joe Horlen, Julian Kang, and Mitchell Cordova.

Dr. Julian Kang received the 2009 award for Scholarly Activity and Research. Pictured left to right: Joe Horlen, Julian Kang, and Mitchell Cordova.

John Kinney was the keynote speaker at the 2009 Scholarship & Awards Banquet.

John Kinney was the keynote speaker at the 2009 Scholarship & Awards Banquet.