With over 50 universities and 1,200 students from across the U.S., the annual Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Regions 6 & 7 competition took place earlier this month in Reno, Nevada. The competition was centered around 17 problems based on real-life construction project scenarios, each sponsored by a different contractor. ASC is a professional association focused on the development and advancement of construction education, and each year Sundt provides a concrete problem for participating teams to solve.
The Cal Poly San Luis Obispo team celebrates their first-place win with a replica M.M. Sundt toolbox and 1:34 scale Sundt mixer trucks.
Students had 24 hours to provide a budget, quantity takeoff, survey and execution plan for the concrete component of Sundt Industrial Group’s NICB Ontario Mill Repower project. The judges represented the Industrial Group and were looking for how students would sequence their formwork, handle the mask concrete, and determine the size of the crew required, their margin and schedule. “Every year, I’m impressed by what [the teams] are able to put together within such a short timeframe,” said Mike Canter, Sundt Concrete Project Manager and Estimator. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo took home first place, followed by Virginia Tech, with Sacramento State taking third.
The Virginia Tech team stands next to their completed bike with Sundt employee-owners William Heaton and Karthik Reddy Alugubelly and representatives from the Reno Bike Project.
During the first day of the competition, Sundt hosts an “all-hands” meeting where the teams participate in a team-building activity. This year, the Sundt Foundation sponsored the event, and the teams were each challenged to assemble a bike that would later be donated to the Reno Bike Project for underprivileged kids. “Once the teams heard that the bikes were being donated to children in the Reno area, they were thrilled,” said Mike Canter. “It turned out to be their favorite team-building activity thus far.” With the individual skills and teamwork on display at this year’s competition, as well as the passion and character that these students bring to the table, it’s clear that the future of our industry is in good hands.