Daily Pioneer News

UW-Platteville professors of industrial studies Marc Shelstrom (left) and Yong-Kwon Cho accept the BuilderEdge Award for excellence in building and construction.

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has been recognized for its contributions to the building and construction industry. A blue ribbon panel of judges selected the UWP Department of Industrial Studies as one of six honorees statewide to receive the prestigious BuildersEdge Award.

In their second year, the BuildersEdge Awards recognize excellence in the state's building industry. UWP educators received the accolade at an awards banquet May 14 in Kohler.

The other honorees included Leon Church and Mary Anne Moore-Church of Sweetwood Builders, Appleton; Hammel, Green and Abrahmson, Milwaukee; Randy J. Thelen of Thelen Total Construction, Elkhorn; Thomas and Egenhoefer, Menomonee Falls; and Roland G. Stephenson of Faith Technologies, Appleton.

UWP industrial studies professor Marc Shelstrom said it was an honor to be recognized alongside such company.

"These are the major players in the state of Wisconsin. The award affirms that our students who leave here are doing what they want them to do," he said. "We received this award because of our students out in the field. You can go into almost every major company and find UWP alumni."

College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture Dean Duane Ford also attended the awards banquet.

"This is a tremendous honor for our program, but one that is well deserved because they do a great job of preparing students to work in the construction industry," Ford said.

The UWP Department of Industrial Studies includes the building construction management, manufacturing technology management, occupational safety management and technology education majors. Students enrolled in UWP industrial studies programs receive a hands-on education that helps them gain the skills and self-reliance to succeed in the workplace.

One of the criteria for the BuildersEdge Award is community involvement. A student house project allows BCM majors to gain real-world building experience while interacting with the community. Students do everything from drawing up the plans and acquiring materials to coordinating subcontractors and organizing schedules.

"The whole process is managed by the students. They tell each other what to do, when to do it and how to do it," Shelstrom said. "We pride ourselves in being a hands-on department. I have yet to find a school that gives as much responsibility to students."

Other criteria for the award include ongoing commitment to the industry and extraordinary efforts to enhance employee education, benefits and skill training. Amid a growing concern for safety in the workplace since the 1970s, UWP educators believe their safety management program has bolstered the industry. With the benefit of a strong education, UWP safety management graduates are able to assist their fellow employees in carrying out work duties in a safe and healthy environment.

"We provide a lot of the people throughout the state that work in safety," Shelstrom said.

The BuildersEdge Awards are the premiere honor in Wisconsin's building and construction industry. The prize was founded by Joe Simon of Simon Insurance and Investment Services, and are additionally sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin; IntellectualMarketing; O'Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong; and Schenck Business Solutions.

The blue ribbon panel of judges for the award consisted of: Bill Smith, state director, National Federation of Independent Business; Chris Wood, vice president, Wisconsin Web Offset; Sandra Shirk, director, Center for Family Business at Marquette University; Amy Schraufnagel, risk manager, Super Excavators; John Wiley, president, Elipticon Wood Products; and Jim Wiersma, former professor, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Twenty-seven industry leaders were nominated for this year's BuildersEdge Awards. UWP is the first educational institution to win the award.