California State Chico, Iowa State and Kansas State Universities are home to the nation’s top collegiate construction associations this year according to an analysis of award applications conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America. As a result, the three student groups will each receive the association’s Outstanding Student Chapter award.

“These chapters not only learned new skills while contributing to a good cause but also built relationships with many different organizations in the community,” said Ted Aadland, the association’s president and president of Portland, Ore.–based Aadland Evans Constructors. “It’s clear that these students are the future of our industry and we look forward to what they will bring to the world of construction.”

Aadland noted that the California State University, Chico AGC Student Chapter was selected as the top student group, largely for its work building new transitional housing for victims of domestic violence. The project consisted of 266 students who built two 840 square feet houses in nine days. The effort totaled roughly 15,000 man-hours, including planning and developing and post-project work. In addition to the transitional housing project, the students renovated a local emergency homeless shelter, Torres Shelter, by adding on additional sleeping rooms and offices. The University chapter was also named one of the best chapters last year. Thanks to their accomplishments, the student chapter will receive $1,500 to help finance their operations.

Iowa State University Associated General Contractors was selected as the second-best student group thanks to its work building new handicap accessible ramps along the Skunk River Water Trail in Ames, Iowa. The group brought together many local organizations to invest nearly 300 man-hours building these ramps. As a result, it will receive $750 from the association.

Kansas State University’s AGC Student Chapter was named the nation’s third-best student construction group for its continued efforts in rebuilding the Hurricane-devastated city of New Orleans. A group of 25 volunteers invested over 900 hours to help renovate the homes of three Katrina victims, which involved a wide range of residential construction tasks and also a roofing job. Kansas State was also a recipient of one the awards last year. The association will provide the chapter with $400.

A panel of six judges representing a cross-section of the construction industry evaluated the applications for this year’s Student Chapter Awards contest. School groups were rated based on their accomplishments during the 2009-2010 school year. There are approximately 200 University-level student construction groups nationwide.

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