COAA Honors Excellence in Project Leadership and Education at 2024 Award Luncheon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COAA Honors Excellence in Project Leadership and Education at 2024 Award Luncheon
Atlanta, GA – November 20, 2024 – The Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) proudly recognized the outstanding achievements of this year’s Project Leadership Award (PLA) and Albert E. Phillips Scholarship winners during lunch on Wednesday at the ”COAA Connect” conference.
These awards are normally presented separately at spring and fall COAA Connect events, but were presented in a single ceremony since only one conference was held in this 30th anniversary year of the association.
Albert E. Phillips Scholarship Award
The luncheon began with an explanation of the Albert E. Phillips Scholarship, which recognizes academic excellence and honors the founder of COAA. Cy Rangel, representing the selection committee, highlighted the importance of the scholarship in fostering talent and supporting the development of young professionals. Special thanks were extended to sponsors WT and Holder for their sponsorship.
This year, two exceptional students were awarded the Albert E. Phillips Scholarship: Catherine Caputo and Kate Benhart. Both recipients, who were unable to attend the luncheon in person, submitted heartfelt acceptance videos to express their gratitude.
Catherine Caputo, a junior at Virginia Tech, is pursuing a degree in Construction Engineering and Management. Catherine shared her passion for hands-on work and her goal of becoming a superintendent, and she emphasized the importance of supporting women in construction.
Kate Benhart, a sophomore at Purdue University, is also pursuing a career in construction management. She highlighted her commitment to developing strong relationships within the industry and her goal of working as a project manager. In her video, Kate thanked COAA for the scholarship and expressed her excitement to contribute to the construction field in the future.
Both recipients expressed deep appreciation for the scholarship and the opportunity to continue their education, with a shared commitment to making a meaningful impact on the construction industry.
Project Leadership Award
Following the scholarship presentations, the focus shifted to the PLA winners, beginning with the Silver Award. Michelle Eagan, a member of the selection committee, shared an overview of the project before introducing the Silver Award winner.
Texas Christian University’s Burnett School of Medicine was honored with the Silver Award. The project, managed by Texas Christian University, is a state-of-the-art, 98,000-square-foot educational facility. The project was praised for its innovative design, exemplary teamwork, and successful completion ahead of schedule. Brooke Ruesch, accepting the award on behalf of the TCU team, expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the project’s success.
The prestigious Gold Award was presented to Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin Campus, a facility dedicated to pediatric and maternal-fetal care. The team, led by Texas Children’s Hospital, completed the project ahead of schedule and under budget despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and supply chain issues. Gaurav Khadse (GK) accepted the award, acknowledging the outstanding collaboration that made the project possible.
“The success of the Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin Campus project is a testament to the power of teamwork and our commitment to providing top-tier care for Central Texas families,” said Khadse. “We are honored to receive this recognition from COAA.”