Wales McLelland Construction is pleased to announce the 2020 Construction Achievement Award Recipient for BCIT’s School of Construction and the Environment: Simon Wong, who is enrolled in BCIT’s Architectural and Building Technology program.
Newly established by Wales McLelland in 2020, the Construction Achievement Award and endowment recognizes a high-achieving BCIT student who demonstrates a high academic standing in the Architectural and Building Technology program.
Over its 50 years as a commercial and industrial builder, Wales McLelland has added many BCIT graduates to its team of industry leading experts in construction. This achievement award is a way to further support advanced education in the construction industry in BC.
“We are excited to be involved in establishing this new Construction Achievement Award for BCIT students to pursue,” states Tony Vigini, Vice President of Development at Wales McLelland, who is a graduate from BCIT with a Diploma of Technology in Marketing Management and Professional Real Estate. “With over 50 years of building innovation in the commercial and industrial sectors, this award is an accurate representation of what Wales McLelland is recognized for across the BC construction industry.”
“We recognize that in order for Wales McLelland to continue delivering successful projects for our clients, we need to be an active leader to help solve the skills shortage in the construction industry, by helping to further train and up-skill the next generation of construction professionals,” continues Tony Vigini. “No institution other than BCIT is better positioned to help us deliver on this.”
As a BCIT graduate with a Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management and a Diploma of Technology in Architectural and Building Engineering, Darren Sauer, Director of Development at Wales McLelland, comments on how far-reaching BCIT’s influence is on the BC construction industry. “Here at Wales McLelland, we have over 30 BCIT graduates on our team, both in the field and in the office. People often mistake construction for a goods industry, but it’s not; it’s a service industry, and it’s the caliber of our people that directly determine the success of our projects.”
“Speaking from personal experience, the education provided by BCIT helps prepare students with the technical knowledge, professionalism, and leadership skills they require to build a successful and fulfilling career in construction,” continues Darren Sauer. “There are so many avenues in the construction industry one can pursue coming out of BCIT, and we are proud to support students as they embark on their careers. We are thrilled that this Construction Achievement Award has been awarded to Simon Wong, a BCIT student who demonstrates a high academic standing in the Architectural and Building Technology program.”
Tony Vigini expands on how important it is to recognize, support, and encourage students looking to enter the construction industry. “By recognizing these students for their hard work and dedication, we’re helping to grow their confidence when embracing complex challenges and striving for new achievements. It’s our way of showing these students that there is an entire construction community supporting them throughout their academic journey.”
“We look forward to continuing to support students in BCIT’s School of Construction and the Environment for years to come.”
To learn more about how you can advance your career in the construction industry in a work environment that recognizes, supports, and encourages high-achieving professionals, visit our list of active job postings to join the Wales McLelland team.