Building Excellence: Texas A&M Construction Science Teams Dominate Competitions
The Texas A&M College of Architecture’s Construction Science program is celebrating a record-breaking achievement with four teams securing first-place finishes in regional and national competitions.
“I’m always proud to announce that our students can go up against any other school and come out on top academically,” said Patrick Suermann, interim dean of the College of Architecture. “This year we have dominated when it comes to regional or national competitions in multiple disciplines.”
The initial victories came from the 2025 TEXO Foundation, Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 5 Student Competition, held on February 17, 2025. Here top university teams from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and beyond competed in multiple categories including Design-Build, Commercial Building and Heavy Civil in front of potential future employers, the Beck Group, Balfour Beatty and Austin Bridge & Road. Teams faced the challenge of preparing quick-turnaround bid proposals and delivering in-person presentations on theoretical projects similar to those they would do when in the industry.
Texas A&M’s Commercial Building Undergraduate Team, led by Gary Boldt, senior lecturer in the construction science department, participated in the ASC Region 5 Competition, where they were tasked with solving a complex, real-world construction problem.
“I had an amazing experience,” said Brantlee Carter ’25, a member of the winning undergraduate student team. “I learned so much more about the construction industry that will help me in my career.”
Commercial building undergraduate team members included:
Lucas Leach ’25
Jose Santana ’25
Julianna Jordan ’25
Kylie Vanover ’25
Giovanni Valladares ’25
Brantlee Carter ’25
“My experience during the competition was initially intimidating because I don’t enjoy public speaking,” said Giovanni Valladares ’25. “However, I gradually became more comfortable with it. Thankfully, my friends saw potential in me, which inspired me not to give up and to contribute to our team’s success in any way I could, despite facing tough competition.”
Julianna Jordan ’25 said she credits “fantastic teamwork” for their victory.
“(I am) grateful for the opportunity and fun we had competing,” she said.
Texas A&M Graduate Teams Lead the Way
At the same ASC Region 5 event, two Texas A&M’s graduate student teams won first and second place respectively in the Design-Build division. They worked for 16 hours straight to create and deliver their competition proposal, and were led by Gilles Albeaino.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our graduate teams for their outstanding performance,” Albeaino said. “Their dedication, adaptability and hard work led to incredible results. These students demonstrated exceptional teamwork, creativity and resilience and their success not only reflects their remarkable talent but also sets a high standard for future competitions.”
The first-place graduate team members included:
Shritam Shubhashish Selma ’23
Anna Thomas ’25
Chetna Sharma ’25
Margi Shah ’25
Sarthak Chintawar ’25
Jhanvi Suresh Chauhan ’25 (awarded Best Presenter – 1st place)
“This experience was truly incredible, not just because of the win, but because of everything we learned along the way,” said Anna Thomas ’25. “Our victory was driven by relentless determination and unbeatable teamwork. We didn’t just aim to compete—we were committed to winning. That’s what made the difference.”
Team Leader Shritam Shubhashish Selma ’25 said it was well worth the long hours, tough calls and hard work it took to prepare and compete.
“Winning first place was one of the most fulfilling moments of my time at Texas A&M,” said Selma. “It reminded me what’s possible with commitment, teamwork and purposeful leadership.”
Team member Jhanvi Suresh Chauhan ’25 also walked away with a personal accolade on top of their team win – Best Presenter 1st Place.
“I gave this competition everything I had, preparing relentlessly to make sure I delivered my best,” she said. “This is a milestone I will carry with me forever. Most importantly, I made my parents proud, and that feeling is unmatched.”
The second-place graduate team beat all other competitors, except for their classmates from Texas A&M.
Second place graduate team members included:
Haritha Telukula (Masters G7)
Harsh Sachin Gangwal ’26
Jugal Dhimantkumar Shah ’25
Nishant Jatinkumar Lia (Masters G7)
Poojan Amitkumar Pasawala (Masters G7)
Subba Rajeshwari Bhagavathi Chandrapati ’26 (awarded Best Presenter – 2nd Place)
“The competition challenged us to think critically, collaborate effectively and apply our skills to solve complex problems under tight deadlines,” said Harsh Sachin Gangwal ’26. One key lesson I learned is the importance of adaptability and clear communication when working in high-pressure environments. These are skills I will carry forward into my professional career.”
Team members said they were proud of their second place accomplishment and their classmate’s first place win.
“The competition was an intense but incredibly rewarding experience,” said Jugal Dhimantkumar Shah ’25. “Our team came together seamlessly to tackle the design details, scheduling, and estimating, ultimately delivering a proposal that showcased our skills and eased any client concerns. This is an achievement I’m truly proud to have shared with such a dedicated group.”
Undergraduate Electrical Team Triumphs Nationally
Texas A&M’s undergraduate electrical team also earned national recognition, taking home first place at the ASC Region 6 & 7 Student Competition held in Reno, Nevada, on February 8. This marks a milestone as it was the first time Texas A&M entered an Electrical Team into the competition.
The team faced a challenging, real-world construction problem. They had just 14 hours to prepare detailed cost estimates, schedules and financial analyses before presenting their solutions to industry judges. Their ability to think critically under pressure and work together as a team resulted in their impressive first-place finish.
Texas A&M’s undergraduate electrical team members included:
Brandon Kidwell ’24
Carter Bennett ’26
Josh Carpenter ’25
Carissa Cowan ’26
Daniel Monreal ’24
Jake Turki ’25
“This competition provides a great opportunity for students to not only apply what they’ve learned in the classroom but also develop essential teamwork and problem-solving skills crucial in the construction industry,” said Jonathan Houston ’06, team coach. “We’re incredibly proud of their performance and the recognition they’ve brought to Texas A&M.”
Roofing Team Secures Top Honors in Nationwide Competition
The construction science program continued Texas A&M’s successful run with a strong showing at the Roofing Alliance’s Roofing Student Competition, held on February 20, 2025, at the International Roofing Expo in San Antonio. The team was led by faculty advisor Dr. Zhenyu Zhang, assistant professor in the College of Architecture.
The roofing team members included:
John Falavolito ’25
Ryan Kennick ’25
Hogan Leftwich ’25
Weston Mounce ’25
Grayson Headley ’28
Students developed complete bid packages, showcasing their project management, estimating and safety skills.
Weston Mounce ’25 said the industry mentor Kyle Cahill of King of Texas Roofing Company was incredibly helpful during the competition, alongside their Faculty Advisor Dr. Zhang.
“Their wisdom, experience, and teaching throughout all phases of this experience were invaluable,” said Mounce. “I am grateful for the opportunity to represent Texas A&M at such a high level and to prove why the Texas A&M Construction Science program is one of the top in the nation.”
Winning at these competitions is a testament to construction science’s success in producing future leaders according to Zhang.
“The competition demanded technical excellence in project understanding, bidding accuracy and construction planning—but it equally challenged students as leaders, communicators, researchers and collaborators,” said Zhang.
“For example, one student who had a fear of public speaking worked tirelessly during rehearsals to improve—and he absolutely nailed it on competition day. That moment says it all.”
Historic Victory at Homebuilder’s Competition
The construction science homebuilding student team won first place at the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show competition in Las Vegas—marking the first time Texas A&M has won this title. The team was led by Lane Wright ’87, an associate professor of construction science.
Homebuilder team members included:
Annelise Smith ’26
Colton Craig ’26
Elizabeth Addicks ’25
Georgina Rodriguez-Gamez ’27
Jose Santana ’25
Joshua Moore ’26
Mathew Hasenpflug ’24
Reanna Wilson ’27
Sam Maffett ’25
Veso Kossev ’25
“The real-world implications of our projects and the guidance we received from Professor Wright really allowed us to prepare a real-world applicable proposal,” said team member Veso Kossev ’25. “The skills we mastered will immediately translate into my career. It also gave me the opportunity to build relationships with fellow Aggies outside of the College of Architecture.”
Faculty advisor Lane Wright ’87, said mentoring this team was “an incredible experience.”
“Each member honed two vital skills—thriving within a strong team dynamic and delivering a confident, well-structured presentation under pressure,” Wright said. “Watching them navigate tough industry questions and craft a thoughtful development plan showcased their growth as future professionals.
Review images taken from the 2025 Construction Science Scholarship Banquet on Flickr.
