Undergraduate student Ann Szynskie
Born Leader

When CM student Ann Szynskie was 10, she joined her aunt to help build a Habitat for Humanity home for a single mom and her children. Now president of Colorado State's Habitat for Humanity student chapter, the CM senior says, smiling, "I've been diagnosed with 'infectious habititus.'" This is Szynskie's third year helping the chapter educate local communities about poverty housing, both at home and worldwide.

Szynskie also provides community service under her scholarship from UCAN Serve Americorps Education Program. As president of the Dean's Leadership Council, she's working to increase the council's visibility on campus, so members can better advocate for the needs of the students in the College of Applied Human Sciences.

Szynskie plans to graduate next May with a B.S. in construction management and an emphasis in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems (MEP). She says she finds MEP work fascinating. "It's these systems that make a building comfortable, bright, fire-safe, and sanitary, yet they are the biggest enigma for most construction managers.'


Cream of the Crop

Since receiving her bachelor's degree in construction science from Texas A&M five years ago, Jenna Brummet has managed and assisted with more than $189 million worth of construction projects, many of them schools. "While I'd like to try hospital work or something else different," says Brummet, "I'm more excited about wrapping my mind around some of the large-scale problems the construction industry is experiencing."

Brummet is part of a growing trend: She is one of many industry professionals who are entering the construction management graduate program at Colorado State. Among others, Brummet joins Brett Nolan, who has been a project engineer with Alvarado Construction since graduating in CM from Colorado State in 2001, and Randall Babish, whose most recent experience has been as vice president and project manager for Mountain States Finishing. Many of the new graduate students promise to be an asset to the program, says Department Head Larry Grosse. "Not only will their industry experience complement and enhance course material and class discussions, these new students are also qualified to be graduate teaching assistants."

Brummet intends to make teaching her next career. "I hope teaching will allow me to try my hand at tackling some of the larger industry issues, like the labor shortage, lack of skilled labor, an aging workforce, industry image problems, and energy and efficiency issues in building," she says. "I'm even hopeful I might be able to solve one of them or at least make some of our lives a little easier."

Student Awards

Colorado State's ABC student chapter received the national organization's Outstanding Student Chapter Award for Excellence. The team was selected from 47 student chapters nationwide for its excellence in programming, community service, interaction with local ABC chapters, and communication/public relations.

At the 2006 ASC Regional Competition in Reno, Nev., Colorado State's student teams received the following recognitions:

— Residential team: 1st place
— Heavy civil team: 2nd place
— Design-build team: 2nd place
— Graduate team: 3rd place

News Brief

A dedication for the first house co-sponsored and built by students in Colorado State's Habitat for Humanity student chapter took place in June. Students are now raising another $25,000 to co-sponsor a second house.