September 30, 2004

Boise State Construction Management Students Have a Ball With Highlands Elementary Project

(Editor’s note: A photo opportunity can be arranged with elementary and college students.)   Boise State University construction management students are putting the finishing touches in the next few days on a ball wall court they built in partnership with kids from Highlands Elementary School on Bogus Basin Road.   The project has provided opportunities for elementary-age students to learn about the construction profession and for college students to demonstrate their abilities by building a ball wall court on the school playground. The wall is 8 feet high and 22 feet long and includes a 23- by 50-foot concrete court surface.   “This is the kind of win-win project we love to do,” said Mike Funderberg, president of Sigma Lambda Chi, the construction management student honor society, which includes about 26 students.   The construction management students have built about 20 ball walls at area elementary schools over the past several years to allow students to play ball games without bouncing balls against the school wall, which can disrupt classroom learning inside.   The elementary schools initiate the process by contacting Boise State to see if construction management students are available. If so, construction management students respond by preparing and presenting a project proposal that includes a partnership agreement with one or more elementary classes and establishes learning objectives for both college and elementary students.   The college students practice their communication, presentation, job organization and construction skills. The elementary students participate in the project through classroom presentations, field trips and a limited amount of hands-on observation.   “Basically the children get exposure to the mathematics, science and management that goes into doing a construction project,” said Jeremy McMullen, the project manager for the Highlands Elementary ball wall.   Local industries also support these projects through the Construction Education Alliance Project System (CEAPS) that began in 1998.  “We get support from all the material suppliers, equipment dealers, general contractors, the Associated General Contractor (AGC) members and the school district,” said construction management professor Charles Gains, the Sigma Lambda Chi faculty adviser.    “Truly, this is a meaningful way for education, profession and community to benefit.”      -30-   Contact: Charles Gains, Construction Management, 426-1829, cgains@boisestate.edu  or Mike Funderberg, mikefunderberg@mail.boisestate.edu  Media Contact: Pat Pyke, communications and marketing, (208) 426-1987, ppyke@boisestate.edu