SAN FRANCISCO - The University of Washington Mechanical Contractors Student Chapter took first prize in the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) 2009–2010 student chapter competition. In addition, MCAA presented its 2009 Educator of the Year award to Professor John Schaufelberger, also of the University of Washington.

The student competition results were revealed during the MCAA Awards of Excellence breakfast at the association’s annual convention in San Francisco. The team from Colorado State University took second place.

During the competition, 26 student chapter teams prepared proposals for the five-phased renovation of a 42,000-square-foot cafeteria serving the Denver Health Medical Center in Denver. The competition project is based on an actual project performed by Braconier Plumbing & Heating Company in Englewood, Colo.

The four finalists were selected in mid-January by a panel of judges based on their evaluation and scoring of the written submissions from participating chapters. The other finalists that presented proposals during the convention were from the MCAA student chapters at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and Oregon State University. Both teams received honorable mention recognition.

The winner of the competition was determined after the oral presentations, by judges Don Giarratano of D/K Mechanical Contractors Inc. of Anaheim, Calif.; Roeland F. Hoeke of H.T. Lyons Inc. Allentown, Pa.; and John A. Powell of Marelich Mechanical Co., Hayward, Calif. Each of the four teams received a handsome trophy and a cash prize as follows: $5,000 to the winning team, $2,500 to the runner-up, and $1,000 to each of the remaining finalists.

For more information about MCAA’s student chapter competition, contact Ann Mattheis at amattheis@mcaa.org.

During the breakfast, Schaufelberger was also presented his award. MCAA’s career development committee selected Schaufelberger for the award based on a combination of mentoring ability, industry knowledge and involvement, and active participation in student chapter activities. Schaufelberger has dedicated considerable time and effort to the student members of the University of Washington Mechanical Contractors Student Chapter. He has organized the chapter’s monthly meetings, field trips to MCAA members’ operations to learn more about the business of contracting, community volunteer programs, trips to the MCAA annual convention, and trips to MCAA’s annual student conference - the Student Chapter Summit. He has helped the students with fundraising and membership recruitment activities, and he has helped undergraduates find internships and graduates find full-time positions. Schaufelberger’s students also credit him in large part for the chapter’s success in MCAA’s annual student chapter competition - four wins (including this year’s competition) and a second place showing in 2009.

Publication date: 06/14/2010