MSU Construction Management alumnus Dan Hamilton receives Outstanding Student Award
Recent Construction Management graduate Dan Hamilton was awarded the Outstanding Student Award by the National Association of Home Builders Student Chapter on Feb. 20, 2019, at the International Builder’s Show.
Recent Construction Management graduate Dan Hamilton was awarded the Outstanding Student Award by the National Association of Home Builders Student Chapter on Feb. 20, 2019, at the International Builder’s Show.
This award recognizes National Association of Home Builders student members for their work for their student chapter and/or local Home Builder’s Association. Students are selected on the evaluation of their academic standing, their level of involvement with their student chapter, as well as their interest in pursuing a residential building career. One student per chapter is eligible for nomination.
“It means a lot to be recognized by both NAHB and by the faculty here at Michigan State for all the work I’ve put in, especially being in a program like construction management where I’ve gotten to know all of the professors well. It makes winning an award like this all the more meaningful,” Hamilton said.
After graduating in fall 2018, Hamilton accepted a position as a project engineer for The Christman Company, and is a part of the team working on constructing the new MSU Billman Music Pavilion.
“There has always been a part of me that would love to own a residential business and build custom homes. However, at this time, my goal would be to work my way up at The Christman Company, and one day be in upper management,” Hamilton said.
As a student, he participated as a competition team member for the National Association of Home Builder’s student chapter, and was e-board president for the MSU Student Builders and Contractors Association.
Hamilton said his interest in construction began when he was a young child during a development in his neighborhood.
“My dad and I would walk through the houses trying to guess what each room would be,” he said.
“I was originally going to major in business and learn about construction through experience, but my high school teacher told me about construction management as a degree. As I did some research, I found that it fit exactly what I wanted to do.”
Hamilton’s main point of advice to current and future construction management students is to get involved.
“Get involved with SBCA. Get involved with as much as you can, and get to know the professors. Go above and beyond what the minimum is. This is a very hard and competitive industry and the more you show you are willing to put in the work, the better off you are,” he said.
“The industry is a reputation based industry, meaning the more people you know and the more people who know you, the better off you are.”