Next Generation of Builders Draws Crowds to NAHB Student Competition

The 2024 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas had its highest attendance in 15 years. And as a sign of the construction industry’s growing appeal among younger generations, IBS also had more than 900 student attendees from around the country.

Although the students got to participate in the industry-leading education and networking opportunities offered at the show, they were keenly focused on one event above all others: the highly anticipated NAHB Student Competition.

Over the course of two days, the aspiring project managers, land developers and designers from various NAHB student chapters across the country presented robust building proposals in front of a panel of construction company executives.

“This is exposure that we never thought we would get as students,” said Induwara Rekogama, a student at Fresno State University. “We’re totally grateful for that.”

A total of 63 schools participated in the event. After the judges tallied the final scores, the winners were announced in front of a packed crowd during NAHB’s Student Chapters Awards Ceremony at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Feb. 28.

“I believe one of the most important things in construction is building relationships and building the network you really need,” Rekogama said. “I think competitions like this help us join that network and help us branch out in our careers.”

Registration for the 2025 Student Competition will open Aug. 23.

Looking to start a new student chapter to compete in the 2025 Student Competitions? NAHB’s New Student Chapter Toolkit is the premier guide to getting started.

2024 Student Chapters Awards Ceremony Winners

Four-year Programs (Production Homes)

First Place: Middle Tennessee State University

Second Place: Texas A&M University

Third Place: Michigan State University

Rookie of the Year: Florida A&M University

Four-year Programs (Custom/Small Build)

First Place: Tuskegee University 

Second Place: California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

Third Place: Louisiana State University

Rookie of the Year: Florida A&M University

Associate Programs

First Place: Kirkwood Community College

Second Place: Dunwoody College of Technology

Third Place: North Dakota State College of Science

Rookie of the Year: Snow College

Secondary Programs

Architecture Track

First Place: York County

Construction Management Track

First Place: Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School

Second Place: Steel Center for CTE

Third Place: Bartow High School

Graduate Programs

First Place: University of Denver (CO)