The ceremony is the first of a new tradition for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas building in North Little Rock. Many members of the construction management industry will join the graduates for the ceremony as well as a celebratory dinner.

鈥淕raduation is a big day for all and to recognize students in a unique manner that is clearly related to their degree makes it even more special,鈥� said Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. 鈥淭he Topping Out ceremony is a great way to provide special recognition for these great graduates. Thanks to Jill Cates for her leadership in establishing this new, excellent tradition for our Construction Management majors.鈥�

The graduating students who will be honored include Caleb Coffman, Steven Currence, Tabari Herron, William Hopkins, Naji Kattom, Andrew Payton, and Christian Salazar.

The graduating students will be honored with commemorative 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock hardhats and certificates as well as sign a beam that will be displayed in the Engineering, Technology, and Applied Science Building at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for future generations to see.

鈥淭raditionally in a Topping Out Ceremony in construction, all members involved with the project sign the final beam that will be placed on the building,鈥� said Jillian Cates, a senior construction management major and president of the Associated General Contractors of America student chapter. 鈥淪ince our graduates have reached this milestone in both their academic and professional career, we are having them do the same thing!鈥�

Cates is a member of the Dean鈥檚 Student Leadership Board and had the idea to begin the topping out ceremony at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock after seeing similar ceremonies taking place at other universities across the country.

鈥淚 have been working hard to make this happen since the beginning of this summer, and I promise you this tradition is nothing short of amazing,鈥� Cates said. 鈥淚t will not only bring a sense of community to the graduates from our department, but will also bring an even greater love for this university for all who are a part of it. This is a way for us to leave our mark on the university.鈥�

The ceremony is a way to distinguish the graduates of one of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 most successful academic departments. Students in the program are highly sought after by the construction management industry and have a 100 percent employment rate upon graduation.

Ceremony speakers include Dr. Hank Bray, department chair; Mike Tramel, professor and founding past department chair; Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and Lloyd Webre, director of development and external affairs.

鈥淚 am excited about the first ever topping out ceremony for graduates of the programs in construction management and civil and construction engineering,鈥� Bray said. 鈥淭opping out in construction refers to placing the last piece of steel in a building or structure. It’s a milestone in a project that is widely celebrated by the contractor, the employees, and the owner. The last beam is signed by all the parties and lifted into place by a crane with much fanfare, often flying an American flag. It is fitting to recognize these graduates as they reach this milestone in their career – not completed, but well on their way. I am so proud of Jill for her leadership in starting this new tradition.鈥�

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Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), will hold an enlightening and informative conversation with Alley at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, in the Schueck, Lexicon, McCarty Auditorium in the Engineering and Technology Building on the campus of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

The new program will highlight industry leaders from across the region and provide opportunities for students and guests to hear from and engage with visionary titans of industry. The first to be featured is Alley, who founded the successful commercial contractor and construction management company VCC in 1987.

“I am thrilled to have a true 鈥楾itan of Industry鈥� this October to share with students and other industry practitioners,鈥� Whitman said. 鈥淲e will discuss his career and the industry’s future. I am sure that this enlightening conversation with Mr. Alley will serve as an inspiration to our students, alumni, and community members. This will be a great kickoff to many of these kinds of events in the future.”

After graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas, Alley was hired as a project manager for a Little Rock construction firm and gained experience as a construction manager. Inspired by his father, an entrepreneur, Alley co-founded VCC on his 31st birthday.

Serving as chairman of VCC, Alley is recognized as one of the top engineering and construction professionals in the country. Under his guidance, VCC has built a reputation as a leading top contractor in the nation and is consistently recognized as the largest retail contractor, Top 15 multifamily contractors, and ENR’s Top 100 contractors. VCC is registered and/or licensed in all 50 states and is able to deliver landmark projects nationwide.

Alley has served a pillar in the community for more than 40 years. Together with his wife Janet, he established the Master of Science in Construction Management program at the University of Arkansas. He also served on the steering committee for Campaign Arkansas and is a member of the Arkansas Academy of Civil Engineering. He was inducted into the U of A’s Engineering Hall of Fame this year.

Alley serves numerous civic groups and founded the VCC Cares Foundation in 2014 that has given millions of dollars to nationwide charities focused on helping women, children, and veterans. He was named a lifetime board member for Youth Home, serves as a Rotarian and a member of Little Rock Fifty for the Future, and was named Arkansas Business Executive of the Year in 2013.

The Titans of Industry event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Lloyd Webre, director of development for the Donaghey College of STEM, at lgwebre@ualr.edu or 501-951-1794.

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