Pioneer Construction of Grand Rapids has donated a 6-by-12 foot covered trailer to the Associated Construction Students of Ferris State University.
The tool trailer will be outfitted with various hand tools to be used by ACS members as part of local community service projects. The trailer idea originally was conceived by the ACS Executive Board last spring and presented to the Construction Technology and Management Industry Advisory Board at its spring meeting. Ferris alumnus Scott Veine, vice president of operations at Pioneer Construction, later pursued the idea with the company’s ownership. Five months later, Tim Showalter, Pioneer Construction president, presented the trailer and some tools to the ACS membership.
The tools and trailer were presented at a recent ceremony. Ferris was represented at the presentation by Daniel Burcham, vice president of Student Affairs; Brian Craig, director of the School of Built Environment; Lee Templin, associate professor and ACS faculty advisor; Ferrell Clark, assistant professor and ACS faculty advisor; and 22 members of ACS. The student organization’s executive board includes Brett Lesiewicz, president; David Bourgeois, vice president; Charlie Alm, secretary; and Brandon Rhodes, treasurer.
According to Templin, the trailer represents an investment that the construction industry has made with Ferris students to give back to the community that they live in for at least nine months a year while taking classes.
“The ACS Executive Board recognized the need for the donated trailer and presented that need to the advisory board, and Scott Veine took the bull by the horns to accomplish the task,” Templin said.
After ACS has outfitted the trailer, the student organization plans to pursue community service projects in the Big Rapids area in an effort to give back to the community that serves as a home away from home for Ferris students.
“I was so honored to be at this event, where industry and higher education came together to serve the community,” Burcham said. “Pioneer Construction certainly understands our value of collaboration and learning. As I watched the ceremony, I thought of how much good the Construction Management students do in the community, and how much more they will do with this generous donation by Pioneer Construction.”