STARKVILLE, Miss.—A Mississippi State building construction science major is receiving major recognition from the construction industry’s leading organization.
Cora N. Howell of Greenway, Arkansas, is a 2016 selection for a $5,000 Associated General Contractors of America Education and Research Foundation Scholarship. A junior also pursuing a minor in philosophy, she is a student in the university’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College.
Virginia-based AGC represents more than 26,000 general and specialty contractors and service providers and suppliers throughout the U.S. For more, visit www.agc.org.
In addition to studying at the university, Howell is an assistant superintendent with the Neshoba County-based W.G. Yates and Sons Construction Co. Currently, she is responsible for coordinating and overseeing subcontractors and crews completing two new residence halls on the north side of campus.
Howell began working in commercial construction at age 16. Over the years, she has developed a keen appreciation for the intricate and ever-changing nature of the building process.
“You’re always in the same general environment, but as the job evolves, the problems become more detailed and subtle,” she said. “The job site is never the same two days in a row, but that keeps it interesting because you learn about different systems, standards and requirements.”
Earlier this year, Howell also was awarded a $1,500 Brislin Inc. Annual Scholarship made possible by the longtime Columbus-based construction firm.
As she supports herself while pursuing the degree, Howell said she is grateful to have opportunities to explore both career and personal goals while at MSU.
“I always tell people that literature and the arts are my passions, but building construction science is my challenge,” she said. “It’s something I can always improve on, and all of my teachers at Mississippi State have been extremely helpful and contributed so much.”
Offered by the College of Architecture, Art and Design, Mississippi State’s building construction science academic curriculum is one of only two such studio-based programs in the country.
For more information about the college and its building construction science program, visit www.caad.msstate.edu, facebook.com/CAADatMSU, twitter.com/CAADatMSU and http://tinyurl.com/CAADatMSUYouTube. Also, see facebook.com/MississippiStateBuildingConstructionScience.
