Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Construction Management Association accepts the Student Chapter of the Year Award at the Associated Builders and Contractors Convention in Las Vegas. This is the second consecutive year the Penn College group has received the honor. From left: Chuck Goodrich, CEO of Gaylor Electric (ABC’s 2025 Contractor of the Year); Amanda Fry, a project manager for Hensel Phelps and coordinator of the Construction Management Competition; Penn College students Noah H. Jumper, of Shippensburg, Chris A. Fisher, of Middleburg, James C. Fretz, of Collegeville, Jason Wiedl, of West Pittston, Aaron A. Almony, of Bel Air, Md., and Morgan H. Littlefield, of Columbia Crossroads; David Pugh, chair of the ABC National Board of Directors; and Albert Fitzgerald, national trade association manager for Dewalt. (Photo provided by Associated Builders and Contractors.)
Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Construction Management Association was honored for the second consecutive year with Associated Builders and Contractors’ Student Chapter of the Year Award.
The national award recognizes an outstanding ABC student chapter for its accomplishments in programming, community service, communications/public relations and interaction with its sponsoring ABC chapter.
“We have been sponsored by ABC Keystone for a few years now,” said Morgan H. Littlefield, of Columbia Crossroads, Construction Management Association president and a senior in the construction management major. “They are extremely supportive of our club, and we interact with their contractor members on a regular basis. These real-world opportunities allow us to apply what we are learning but also help us develop the soft skills needed in the profession.”
The Penn College Construction Management Association provides a range of activities for its more than 70 members, including professional workshops, sponsorship for certifications, career preparation, college and community service opportunities, tutoring and study sessions, involvement with industry associations, social activities, and many guest speakers.
“One area where we stand out is our guest speakers,” said Noah H. Jumper, of Shippensburg, vice president of the Construction Management Association. “We hosted around a dozen construction-industry speakers in 2024 who bring different expertise and insight to our members on topics that matter to us as we start our careers.”
“The CMA is an invaluable part of our construction management program at Penn College,” said Wayne Sheppard, department head and assistant professor of construction management. “The extracurricular activities that are organized and led by the members add incredibly more opportunities than what can be accomplished in the classroom alone. Students learn leadership and organizational skills, get exposed to the industry in more ways, and members provide a support network for their time at school but also into their careers.”
Each semester, the association arranges several local field trips, as well as a multi-day trip to a metropolitan area where program alumni and other industry partners provide tours of construction projects. Students get to see different types of projects, from all sectors of the industry, at various phases of completion, being delivered by construction companies of all sizes.
As part of its Fall 2025 field trip, CMA tours the ABC Keystone Offices and Apprenticeship Training Facility in Manheim. (Photo by Wayne R. Sheppard, assistant professor of construction management.)
“It’s a great opportunity to see the classroom aspect of your education being implemented in real-world applications,” Jumper said. “The trips also help our members bond, building the family culture, and we have a lot of fun.”
In addition to Littlefield and Jumper, the club’s officers are James C. Fretz, of Collegeville, assistant vice president; Eric D. Xander, of Sellersville, secretary; Chris A. Fisher, of Middleburg, treasurer; and Emilio H. Stipe, of Pottstown, assistant treasurer. Sheppard is the faculty adviser.
"We are incredibly proud of our students, who consistently outpace so many other, much larger programs!” said Ellyn A. Lester, assistant dean of construction and architectural technologies. “Their hard work, coupled with our faculty's dedication, are the secret to their success!”
As winners of the ABC Student Chapter of the Year Award, the Construction Management Association received a substantial cash prize and an all-expense paid trip for four of its members to attend ABC’s Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., in June. Participants will join ABC contractor members to visit Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress and to hear from top political experts on the latest developments related to the construction industry.
To learn more about Penn College’s bachelor’s degree in construction management, call 570-327-4520.
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