Construction Owners Association of America Announces Recipients of 2 Albert E. Phillips Scholarship

ATLANTA - May 29, 2013 - PRLog -- Atlanta, GA May 9, 2013 – The Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) announced today, that Aaron Elston, a student at Iowa State University and Cody Slack, attending Penn State University, were each awarded Albert E. Phillips Scholarships.  COAA, a national organization committed to the continuous improvement of the design and construction process to maximize Owners’ project success, offers these scholarships to assist future leaders in their educational pursuits and position them to become contributors to the industry.  

A committee comprised of COAA members representing various stages of professional development reviewed an outstanding group of applicants and awarded scholarships to the two candidates whose commitment to education, the community, and professional service stood above all others.  Both Elston and Slack received honors at COAA’s Spring Owners Leadership Conference in Atlanta, GA on Thursday, May 9, 2013, at a Luncheon Reception.  Each received a $1,500.00 scholarship for courses of study related to the design and construction industry.

“We believe very strongly in education and encourage personal growth and development,” said Carlo Colella, Associate Vice President for Facilities Management at the University of Maryland and Scholarship Committee Chair. “We provide extensive training opportunities for members, including the Owner Training Institute courses, bi-annual conferences and webinars, throughout the year and feel the Scholarship program as a natural extension of that commitment.

“We received a record number of applications, making it extremely difficult to make our decision from so many excellent and deserving candidates,” said Rebecca Koller, AVP Director of Facilities Management at University of Nebraska and Scholarship Committee member, when asked about the vetting process.  

Aaron Elston is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Engineering - Mechanical Emphasis, from Iowa State University, a junior scheduled to graduate in May of 2014.  Aaron is a journeyman plumber who has recently passed the LEED Green Associate Exam. He is a member of several student organizations including Iowa State University Mechanical Contractors Association, The Engineering Ambassador and Mentor Program (TEAM), Associated General Contractors, and the Associated Schools of Construction. Aaron is a well-rounded individual who is also the captain and president of the water polo club team and an undergraduate research assistant on the topic of lean construction and its effects on trade contractor selection.

Cody Slack is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering – Construction Management, from The Pennsylvania State University, a junior scheduled to graduate in May of 2015.  Cody is also dedicated and passionate about his work.  He has worked at Penn State's department of architectural engineering where he helped develop 3D models to assist a PHD candidate in their defense of the thesis of virtual facility prototyping. Most recently, he works with Penn State’s office of physical plant where he develops intelligent models for visualization and coordination of construction activities and energy auditing efforts. He is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Beta Sigma and is on the Penn State’s cycling team.

To arrange an interview or for digital pictures of the check presentation, please contact Lucie Castro, (800) 994-2622

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About COAA

Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) was founded in 1994 to serve the interests of construction project owners.  Comprised of a diverse group of men and women representing construction project owners throughout America, COAA is committed to the continuous improvement of the design and construction process to maximize Owners’ project success.  COAA supports this mission through education, information, scholarships and developing relationships within the industry.

About Albert E. Phillips

The Albert E. Phillips Scholarship honors Al Phillips, a founding member of COAA who served as general counsel for the organization for 13 years.  Albert E. Phillips is of counsel in the Atlanta law firm of Cohen Pollock Merlin & Small.  Mr. Phillips’ practice is entirely related to construction matters, with particular emphasis on representing owners of construction projects.  Mr. Phillips has represented a broad variety of clients in his field, including state, city, and county governments; state universities; airport authorities; hospitals; national and multi-national corporations, including hotel and retail chains; airlines; public utilities; private developers; architects; engineers; contractors; and surety companies.  

For more information on COAA and the Albert E. Phillips Scholarship, please visit: www.coaa.org