The Iowa State University College of Engineering will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its construction engineering (ConE) program September 23-25, 2010. The Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering will host a variety of activities as part of the celebration, including a golf outing, garden tour, a tailgate at the Iowa State vs. University of Northern Iowa football game, and a black-tie optional banquet.
Alumni and friends of the industry are invited to attend the weekend of events. The program’s original “Professor in Charge” Tom Jellinger and many guests who have influenced the growth and success of the program will gather to recognize and celebrate the exceptional curriculum, staff, and reputation the program has developed throughout the years.
The celebration kicks off Thursday, September 23, with a casual dinner at the Iowa State Alumni Center on the Iowa State campus in Ames, Iowa.
On Friday, September 24, the day will include a “best shot” golf tournament at Veenker Memorial Golf Course and a guided tour of Reiman Gardens, including the butterfly wing, conservatory, and the rose and herb garden.
Friday night’s black-tie optional banquet will feature keynote speaker Rear Admiral Katherine Gregory, Chief of Staff, First Naval Construction Division. The agenda will also include the unveiling of the ConE Hall of Fame and its first three inductees, as well as highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of this pioneering program during its 50 years of existence.
On Saturday morning, September 25, the new Tom and Ro Jellinger Lab will be dedicated in Town Hall at 9:00 a.m. The weekend will conclude with a rousing tailgate at Jack Trice Stadium before the Iowa State vs. University of Northern Iowa rival football game on Saturday, September 25.
The Iowa State ConE program was established in 1960 to respond to the need for a more practical program for students planning to work in construction organizations. Previously focused primarily on architectural and industrial engineering, the college recognized that a curriculum targeting construction engineering would produce graduates better suited to the multiplicity of technical and administrative problems encountered in the construction industry.
As early as 1966, graduates of the new construction engineering program were highly sought after. Enrollment in the program continued to grow, and so did its reputation. Job placement hovered around 100 percent, and the average monthly starting salary was the highest for any program in the College of Engineering.
Fifty years later, Iowa State construction engineering boasts awarding 2,185 bachelor’s of science, 100 master’s, and 11 doctoral degrees. Even more impressive than these numbers is the impact that this exceptional group has had within the construction industry on the local, state, national, and worldwide stage. From individual job sites to Fortune 500 firms, and from hometowns to Washington, D.C., Iowa State University construction engineers are leading our industry–they have truly become “best in class” in the United States.
For more information about the ConE 50th anniversary celebration, visit the website or contact Jenny Laffey at 515 232-0919.
To register for the events, visit the quick registration site.
For more information contact:
Jenny Laffey
Iowa State University Extension
Conference Planning & Management
515 232-0919
jmlaffey@iastate.edu