As the College of Technology’s December 2011 graduates complete their time at Purdue, we are profiling a few and finding out their future plans and how they arrived at this point in their lives. Commencement is December 18, 2011.
Jonathan Dawkins, Columbus, Ohio
Project Engineer for Turner Construction in Columbus, Ohio
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in building construction management with a concentration in residential construction
Job duties
- I will be working on site, assisting the site superintendent and project manager with daily duties. These duties include filling out Daily Construction Reports (DCRs), which chronicle the activities and progress of the project.
- I will be writing and replying to Requests for Information (RFIs) in order to answer structural and layout questions concerning the building. RFIs also keep communication lines open between the tradesmen, architect, and owner.
- Various other tasks include safety, quality control, and processing change orders.
- I will be interacting with the tradesmen on a daily basis, tracking their progress and updating the schedule. Communication with the owner and architect will be on a bi-weekly basis.
Purdue classes that helped Jonathan for his job
- All the BCM classes helped prepare me for my career. We do many hands-on activities in our labs that expose us to practices we will see in the field.
- We have classes that take us through various levels of estimating, and I could be doing the exact same practices I learned in the classroom during my first year of work.
- The same goes for our scheduling and accounting classes, where we learn the same program software that the industry leaders are using every day.
Other ways the College of Technology and/or Purdue provided preparation and assistance
- Being involved with Purdue, I’ve had chances to broaden my horizons by studying abroad. This past summer I had the chance to travel to Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai to study major construction projects. Prior to that I spent a week in Jamaica on a missions trip building a house for an impoverished family. Both of these experiences would not have been afforded to me if I did not attend Purdue. These trips changed my worldview and broadened the scope of what I could do after college.
Thanks go to:
- I am extremely thankful to my family for being so supportive of me during my time as a Purdue student. My parents, Cedric and Patricia, were my inspiration for seeking a college education. My sisters, Cenee and Christina, led by example in showing how to be a successful student and how to never stop learning.
- I gained a great support system during my time here including friends and mentors. The churches that I have been a part of, Word of Life and Purdue Christian Campus House, have encouraged me to achieve academically and grow in my faith in Jesus Christ. I owe them a great deal of thanks.
- Last but not least is the tremendous faculty of the Building Construction Management department. I was able to travel abroad with the Department Chair, Dr. Cox, and Professor Benhart, and I would like to thank them for being interested in my growth as a well-rounded individual. My foremost mentor in the program is Dawn Lamb. The guidance and encouragement I received from Dawn helped me develop as a leader and reach my goals. Thank you all!