A student from Salina was among a group of K-State students who spent the winter break working on a service project.
According to the school, the Associated General Contractors of Kansas student chapter at Kansas State University in the GE Johnson Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Sciences has engaged eight students and two faculty advisors in its annual winter break service project. Elder Levi Johnson of Salina was among the volunteers.
The January six-day trip to Mayfield, Kentucky served residents left with damage following a deadly EF4 tornado that struck the area in December 2021.
K-State chapter members have organized and participated in these winter break service trips for more than a decade. This year’s trip was unique because the Murray State University Associated General Contractors student chapter offered to join the cleanup effort and hosted the K-State group in the evening in Murray, Kentucky, approximately 25 miles distance.
“It has been a great experience for our students to serve others and gain hands-on experience with work like this,” said Shannon Casebeer, associate professor, Jim and Carolyn Grier chair of construction science and faculty adviser for the student chapter of the US. Associated General Contractors of Kansas. “The opportunity to make new friends and build future professional connections in the industry with the Murray State group made the trip even better.”
Accompanying Casebeer in a faculty advisory role was Ray Buyle, president of Tointon Construction Management, professor and department head of architectural engineering and construction sciences.
The trip was funded through donations from the following industry firms, listed alphabetically: BHS Construction, Central Consolidated, Eby Construction, JE Dunn, Kelly Construction, Key Construction, McCownGordon, Swinerton Builders, Walters-Morgan and Whiting Turner.
K-State students participating in the project include:
Ben Husband, senior in construction science and management, Garden plain; Noah Bartel, sophomore in construction science and management, Hillsboro; Peter Bishop, sophomore in construction science and management, olate; Abby Collins, junior in architectural engineering, and Nicholas Divilbiss, senior in architectural engineering, both of Land park; and Levi Johnson, senior in architectural engineering, Salt pan.
From abroad: Taylor Case, senior in construction science and management, Russellville, Missouri; and Madelyn Salmonowicz, senior in architectural engineering, St. Louis, Missouri.
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KSU Photo: Members of the Associated General Contractors of Kansas student chapter traveled to Mayfield, Kentucky in January to serve local residents impacted by an EF4 tornado in December 2021. From left: Noah Bartel, Madelyn Salmonowicz, Levi Johnson, Peter Bishop, Nick Divilbiss, Taylor Case, Abby Collins and Ben Husband.
