Student-Led Innovation: Construction Science Department Recognizes Winning Ideas
Congratulations to the three winners of the inaugural Innovation Ideas Competition and Research Program (I2CRP) in the Department of Construction Science (COSC). This new initiative, funded by the Construction Industry Advisory Council (CIAC), allows undergraduate students to look at current construction practices with fresh eyes during their internships and develop new ideas that can make construction work more efficient, productive, and safe.
The three winners and their respective projects are:
Brennan Lantzy – “The Toolbox Generation: Building the Future Construction Workforce”
Jack Patterson – “The Pipe Pro: A Novel Engineering Solution for Pipe Handling”
Victoria Chavez – “Effective Spanish Safety Training Using AI”
The inaugural program was a resounding success and fiercely competitive. The panel of Dr. David Jeong, Dr. Zofia Rybkowski, Dr. Zhenyu Zhang, and Professor Hernan Guerra was astounded by the quality of the ideas and faced a daunting task in selecting the top three from over 30 submissions. Each of the three winners will receive a $1,000 cash prize and the opportunity to engage in paid research for up to two semesters under the mentorship of COSC faculty members.
“This program is a big step for COSC in fostering a culture of research and innovation for undergraduate students, aligned with the college’s strategic vision. The department is proud of all the participants and looks forward to seeing how the winners’ innovations will impact the industry,” said David Jeong, professor and associate department head for construction science.
