MCA of Metro Washington Student Chapter Opportunities

Committee Members:
Chairman, Matt Corrigan, Pierce Associates,
Richard Paist, John J. Kirlin, LLC
Peter Haber, Pritchett Controls
Chris Kelly, Kelly HVAC
Eric Russell, Dominion Mechanical
Sara Heitkemper, Boland

In 2000, MCA of Metro Washington established its first Student Chapter at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Association’s committee members have worked diligently with the professors and students of the Building and Construction Department and Consortium to establish a relationship with this college.

In the fall of 2006, the Association began the process of building a relationship with the University of Maryland and it paid off. At the MCAA’s 2007 Annual Convention in Orlando, the MCA of Metro Washington was awarded the student chapter charter for the University of Maryland. Three of the University’s student chapter officers traveled to this convention to accept the charter, along with President Hahr, during the Awards of Excellence Breakfast. During the past six months these three students, Co-Presidents Carl Diaz and Matt Selvocki, along with Kate Turner, Vice President, have been playing an active role in the Student Chapter activities and encouraging other Maryland ASME students to become a member of this new & rising student chapter.

With the establishment of two student chapters, the Association is busy guiding these young people into a successful career path with the mechanical contracting industry by inviting them to all the Association outside activities to network with the membership. However, the MCAMW is not only committed to a long-term relationship with the Univ. of Maryland and Virginia Tech, but also continues to aggressively build alliances with Catholic University and Penn State.
Career Fairs:
Student Chapter Committee members and MCAMW staff attend 10 to 12 Career Fairs each spring and fall at the above mentioned colleges. These fairs have provided the MCAMW membership with resumes of students who have been through the “screening process” and are interested in a career in our industry.

Student Chapter Field Trip & Scholarships:
In April 2007, MCA of Metro Washington sponsored a 2 day field trip for six Virginia Tech student finalists who submitted applications for a $1,000 and $2,000 scholarship.
These students, and faculty advisor, Professor Georg Reichard, visited job sites of John J. Kirlin, LLC and Pierce Associates while they were in town and also interviewed with the Student Chapter Career Development Committee who determined the final recipients of the scholarship. At the MCAMW’s Business Meeting, Daniel Hawkins and Lauren Gagen Cheney were awarded a $2,000 and $1,000 scholarship, respectively.

The Students are welcome to attend all of the Association's activities throughout the year. We encourage them to seek position with our members. The students can have access to our Membership Directory, monthly mailings, seminars hosted by the Association, and talk directly to any members about the aspects of the construction industry.