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Mike Balleau, a junior studying geology, is working on
construction of Shocker Hall.
Campus
construction firms employ students on Shocker Hall site
By Travis Gillespie
An education at Wichita State
University offers concrete advantages that transform students into
professionals, and recent improvement projects around campus illustrate how
hiring Shockers offers advantages to employers as well.
Wichita State is spending about
$60 million to construct its new residence facility, Shocker Hall, and
Dondlinger & Sons Construction, GSI Engineering and Andale Ready Mix are
hiring WSU students to work on it. Being employed on a campus construction
project gives student workers valuable experience and flexibility, and
employers get educated employees with a demonstrated desire to grow.
Part of Wichita State's mission is
to provide its students with the edge that experience-based learning offers,
and WSU's Office of Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning is at the
center of that effort.
"Students who participate in
our program graduate not only with their degree, but experience in their
chosen career field, giving them a competitive edge in today's job
market," said Kim Kufahl, co-op marketing manager.
Shocker employees
Jacob Arnold, a senior majoring in
engineering technology and management, works for Dondlinger, a company noted
for constructing landmarks all over Kansas, including Intrust Bank Arena,
Exploration Place and Charles Koch Arena.
Before attending WSU, Arnold was
working his own small construction jobs, which he says were hard to come by.
While on campus for enrollment, Arnold noticed the Dondlinger crews working
on Shocker Hall and decided to introduce himself. Because of his initiative
and experience, Arnold was hired on as a carpenter and tasked with a variety
of jobs, from pouring footings to installing windows and more.
"My superintendent knows the
importance of my school work, so he is very flexible," said Arnold.
"Being an engineering student at Wichita State helped build my resume.
I've had discussions with the owner of the company, and my hope is that once
I graduate I can re-apply for an assistant project manager or field engineer
position."
Another student employee working
on campus construction is Mike Balleau, a junior studying geology. He is a
nontraditional student employed by GSI, and has worked as a materials
technician doing quality assurance and materials testing for the Shocker Hall
project.
Balleau was referred to GSI by
other students as a way to gain field experience. He says that while his work
collecting samples and running tests is unglamorous, it's a critical job,
especially with how quickly the new residence hall has taken shape.
Between semesters, Balleau's job
has given him the opportunity to travel and learn at distant sites. He says
the experience-based learning component of his education makes him a valuable
employee.
"WSU provided me with time
management skills that transition well into the workplace," he said,
"and my geology major gives me knowledge of soils and sands for use in
GSI's lab."
Wichita State alumni also play a
role in updating and improving the campus. Chris Carney, who graduated in
December 2012 with a degree in business administration, is a field supervisor
of quality control at Andale Ready Mix.
As a student at WSU, Carney worked
in the quality control department of an engineering firm testing concrete and
construction materials. That led to his current job at Andale Ready Mix
overseeing concrete mix testing for civil, industrial, commercial and
residential projects.
"I believe my degree from WSU
prepared me for the everyday challenges of working in a small business,"
said Carney. "With Andale Ready Mix, I have the opportunity to
participate in customer service, quality control, scheduling and even new
product development and marketing projects, all of which were a large part of
the general business curriculum at WSU."
Making a difference
For companies that hire Shockers,
re-investing in the community is an important factor, and while GSI isn't
currently participating in WSU's co-op program, it does have a long-standing
history of promoting education and learning.
"Our work with Dondlinger at
WSU, as well as many other projects, improves the community," said Blane
Wood, GSI client service manager. "I think that it allows our employees
to be more involved. We hire a number of students, mainly as summer interns,
and most of them come back, either for further internships or as full-time
employees."
Dondlinger, GSI and Andale Ready
Mix hire students not only to benefit themselves, but as another way to
invest in the community. They're opening windows for future professionals.
"Doing this job is
incredible," said Arnold. "It's such a good learning opportunity.
The work here is fast paced and I feel like I'm learning something new every day.
Being a student employee really makes a difference."
Created on Mar 27,
2014 11:35 AM; Last modified on Mar 28, 2014 1:36 PM
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