Keith Krass, intern for Allan Myers, named Intern of the Year and awarded top scholarship, 16 semifinalists also received scholarships

SUGAR LAND, Texas — (BUSINESS WIRE) — March 1, 2018 — Construction software developer HCSS ( www.hcss.com) announces the winners of its annual Construction Intern Awards. The company’s third-annual program awarded a combined $50,000 in college scholarships to students in construction-related fields who interned with construction companies for at least two months during the 2016-2017 school year or summer of 2017. One grand prize winner, four finalists and 12 honorable mentions all received scholarships.

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Army veteran and Safety Management major at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Keith Krass, was awarded the grand prize, Intern of the Year, scholarship of $10,000. He interned as an assistant health, safety and environmental specialist (HSE) with Allan Myers, Worcester, Pa., from May to August of 2017.

“The calling to help people is what got me into safety, and, with Allan Myers, safety is about more than regulations. It’s about going above and beyond, about making the difficult, but right, decision,” Krass says. “Allan Myers employees led by example and set the standard for others to follow. They are true professionals that I strive to emulate. Allan Myers has provided me with an excellent experience, and I am thankful. I also appreciate HCSS’s sponsorship of the construction intern scholarship program. By valuing education, they recognize the students who are working hard to be part of the industry’s future.”

The four finalists receiving a $4,000 scholarship were:

• Harrison Hayworth, University of Arkansas – Little Rock, interning with Austin Bridge & Road
• Jessica Francis, West Virginia University, interning with Crown Castle
• Maxwell Legeay, Western Kentucky University, interning with Traylor Bros., Inc.
• Will Bodnar, University of Pittsburgh, interning with Kiewit

Twelve $2,000 Honorable Mention scholarships were received by:

• Aaron Martin, Murray State University, interning with Jim Smith Contracting
• David Joyner, California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo, interning with Preston Pipelines
• Edyta Osieczko, University of Arkansas – Little Rock, interning with Austin Bridge & Road
• Gabriela Mayer, University of Florida, interning with The Lane Construction Corporation
• Gabriella Giordano, LeTourneau University, interning with Graniterock
• Joseph Halker, University of Cincinnati, interning with Walsh Construction
• Kent Beecham, California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo, interning with John Madonna Construction Co., Inc.
• Luiselin Mujica, University of Florida, interning with The Lane Construction Corporation
• Manny Wheaton, Boise State University, interning with Engineered Structures, Inc.
• Matthew Favre, University of Texas, interning with Skanska USA
• Moath Mohammed, Louisiana Tech University, interning with Civil And Structural Engineers Intl.
• Ron Thompson, California State University – Long Beach, interning with W.L. Butler Const., Inc.

“Each year, the Construction Intern Awards program continues to grow as does the quality of our scholarship applicants. It is incredible the amount of hard work these young adults put into their schoolwork and their internships,” said HCSS CEO Mike Rydin. “These students are the future leaders of the industry, and the future of construction is in good hands.”

A selection committee and public online vote narrowed the entry field to the top 17 semifinalists, who were then judged by a panel of industry experts. "We are grateful that so many industry experts agreed to serve as judges," Rydin continues. "Without this caliber of judging, it is likely that this effort would not have been as successful as it has been. Not only have we been able to award a number of significant scholarships, but we are also spreading the knowledge of how summer intern programs can be used to make construction more attractive to today's students."

The expert selection panel included Pete Ruane, CEO of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA); Steve Sandherr, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC); Stan Orr, President and CSO of the Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP); Greg Sizemore, Vice President of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC); Carl Heinlein, Sr. Safety Consultant with ACIG; Rick Schwer, President of Scranton Gillette Communications/SGC Horizon; Stuart Binstock, CEO of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA); Michael Holland, President of the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE); Lori Brown, President of the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC); Bill Hillman, CEO of the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA); Marcia Gruver Doyle, Editorial Director, Randall-Reilly; Steve McGough, President and CFO of HCSS; Chase Ekstam, 2015 Intern of the Year; and Rey Diaz, 2016 Intern of the Year.

Submissions for the 2018 Construction Intern Awards will open in fall 2018. Visit www.constructioninternawards.com to learn more.

ABOUT HCSS

With a suite of software products that includes construction estimating, field entry, dispatching, equipment maintenance, telematics, fuel management and safety, HCSS provides the construction industry with innovative software solutions and fully-managed, Cloud hosting options that help construction companies work faster, smarter and more efficiently. Since 1986, HCSS products have delivered value for more than 45,000 construction professionals, including 24 of the Top 25 ENR Contractors. HCSS delivers world-class customer service with professional implementation, and 24/7 instant support, 365 days a year.

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