By Allison Benne
A BYU student was one of 18 college students nationwide to win the Centex Homes ?Build Your Future? scholarship and internship.
Aaron Thompson, 23, a senior from Cedaredge, Colo., majoring in construction management, was awarded a $2,500 scholarship for his work in residential construction.
Thompson was chosen for the award based on his strong interest in residential home building, his good academic record and his work experience, said Steve Nellis, the director of recruiting for Centex Homes.
The award also includes a trip to the annual National Association of Home Builders conference in Atlanta, Nellis said.
As part of the award, Thompson completed an internship with Centex Homes in Portland, Ore. this summer, Thompson said.
Half of the summer, he worked as a field manager, superintending the building of single-family homes, he said.
The rest of the time, Thompson worked in land development, which puts in the infrastructure of a subdivision, he said.
Students from 40 universities are considered for the scholarship.
BYU is included on the list of schools because of its outstanding construction management program, Nellis said. BYU also has a history of producing good employees in the field, he said.
The school of technology advisory group contributes to the excellence of the construction management program, according to Beverly Harmon, an undergraduate advisor in the school of technology.
The group, made of professionals in the field, concentrates on how the school can stay on the cutting edge of technology, she said.
The group meets several times a year to tell the school what changes need to be made, Harmon said.
Thompson said he thinks the school of technology is exceptional.
The school focuses not only on homebuilding, but on commercial building as well, he said.
This makes finding a job easier, as students can branch off into all the different areas of construction management, he said.
?Consistently, we?ve had a 100 percent job placement. Most people get two or three offers,? Thompson said.
Construction management has one of the highest entry-level salary averages at BYU. The average salary for April graduates is $50,705.71, although some are paid $110,000 a year, Harmon said.
?Because they are technological, they?re hands-on, their salaries are on the upper end at BYU,? Harmon said.
Thompson said he has not yet decided with whom he will work, but is looking at homebuilders across the country to find a job in his preferred area.
?I plan to go into homebuilding. Probably into land development,? he said.