Sources: Taylor Robillard, taylorjr@k-state.edu;
Andrew Gilmore, andyg90@k-state.edu;
and David Fritchen, 785-532-5964, dfritch@k-state.edu
Hometown interest: Hesston, Mulvane and Wichita
News release prepared by: Tyler Sharp, 785-532-2535, tmsharp@k-state.edu
Friday, May 11, 2012
National honors: Associated General Contractors award scholarships to three construction science students
MANHATTAN -- Three Kansas State University students are being honored with scholarships from the Associated General Contractors Research and Education Foundation.
The Associated General Contractors of America, the trade association for the construction industry thatrepresents more than 8,000 general contractors in all 50 states, awarded scholarships to Taylor Robillard, senior in construction science and management, Wichita; Andrew Gilmore, sophomore in pre-professional construction science and management, Hesston; and Josiah Wegener, sophomore in pre-professional construction science and management, Mulvane.
The nationally renewable scholarships each amount to $2,500 annually.
Robillard received the Associated General Contractors Partnering Scholarship. While at K-State, Robillard has been involved in a variety of engineering-related organizations. He served on the Works Project Committee for the student chapter of Associated General Contractors, which included facilitating major work with the Lutheran Campus Ministries near the university. Robillard has been accepted into Sigma Lambda Chi, an international construction honor society, and he is a member of Steel Ring, a professional honor society, and will serve as president for the 2012-2013 school year. He also has been active in Acacia, a Greek social fraternity, serving as its vice president of house operations in 2011.
Robillard plans to continue working with Wildcat Construction Company, Wichita, during the next two summers before beginning full-time work with the company following his graduation in December 2013. The experience will be beneficial as he focuses on his future goals.
"I want to own or manage a similarly-sized construction company in the near future," Robillard said. "But I haven't ruled out returning to K-State to teach after a career in the industry."
Gilmore received the James D. Pitcock Jr. Scholarship. He has also been active in the student chapter of the Associated General Contractors, serving as the fundraising chair and freshman/sophomore representative. He is a member of FarmHouse fraternity, where he has served as business manager and helped oversee a shed construction project.
Following his graduation from K-State, Gilmore would like to find work as a small-town contractor.
"I enjoy helping make somebody else's dream a reality through building and construction," he said.
Wegener received the Build America Scholarship from the Associated General Contractors. At K-State, he is also the recipient of the E.F. and E.F. Wambsganss Construction Science Scholarship.
David Fritchen, department head and professor of architectural engineering and construction science, believes the students' success in landing the scholarships is reflective of the department's strength.
“K-State construction science and management students have always competed favorably for these national AGC scholarships and I am proud that these three students continue a great tradition," Fritchen said. "Our student success in academics and industry is a testament to the quality of construction education that we offer in our construction science and program at Kansas State University. I am pleased that these students were selected by AGC of America for national scholarships as it continues to bring national recognition to K-State as a leader in construction education."
