Hughes General Contractors, Inc. Makes Contribution to Two SUU Programs
Published: June 07, 2024 | Author: Brooke Heath | Read Time: 3 minutes
Two programs at Southern Utah University were the beneficiaries of a generous donation from Hughes General Contractors at a campus ceremony on June 4. The $150,000 contribution from the Utah-based company was presented to SUU’s STEM Center and Construction Management program in an effort to cultivate interest around engineering and construction from an early age and support college education.
“With over 50 years of building schools in southern Utah, we are passionate about providing opportunities to get kids excited about all things construction and engineering,” said Annie Simkins, Hughes General Contractors’ director of marketing and business development. “Hughes has had the privilege to hire many SUU graduates and we look forward to continuing this partnership for years to come with our ongoing contribution to the STEM Center and Construction Management program.”
The portion of the funds allocated to SUU’s STEM Center will go toward the center’s STEM Library - a resource that provides tools for K-12 educators across southern Utah. For the last ten years, the library has served thousands of school-aged children in Iron, Washington, Garfield, Kane, and Beaver Counties by allowing teachers and parents to check out supplies that may not otherwise be available in their classrooms and homes.
“The Hughes donation is really a game changer for our STEM library,” said Dr. William Heyborne, dean of SUU’s Walter Maxwell Gibson College of Natural Sciences. “Their support will make the resources we provide teachers, parents, and students even more accessible. These funds will help us increase the size of the library, increase the number of items in circulation, and help with the cost associated with transporting the items around southern Utah.”
The remaining contribution will be used to purchase specific material testing equipment for SUU’s Construction Management program and create a scholarship for students pursuing a career in construction management through the university, which will be named the Hughes General Contractors, Inc, Construction Management Scholarship. The scholarship will begin accepting applications in November, and will be awarded to a student pursuing the program in the spring of 2025.
“The naming and creation of the endowed Hughes General Contractors, Inc. Scholarship will provide our Construction Management program with the ability to expand and provide additional support to our students,” said Dr. Jeffrey Miller, Dean of SUU’s College of Engineering and Computational Sciences. “Our recently accredited Construction Management program is growing, and we are thrilled to have Hughes as a partner as we look to the future of our program.”
About SUU's STEM Center for Teaching & Learning
For over a decade, the SUU STEM Center for Teaching & Learning has been building a better future for Utah by providing free, high-quality STEM experiences and instruction for K-12 students in southern Utah through collaborations with the state, schools, businesses, and our local communities. Serving more than 24,000 people in the 2023-2024 school year, the Center’s efforts have made a positive change in STEM education in rural Utah classrooms.
About SUU’s Construction Management Program
To be successful, construction managers need a working knowledge of the construction industry, the skills to make prudent business decisions, and an understanding of architectural and engineering concepts used in construction. Within the College of Engineering and Computational Sciences, Southern Utah University’s Construction Management program trains students for successful careers in the construction industry, directing commercial and residential construction projects, and providing leadership for engineers and architects through oversight with project timelines and budgets.
Tags: College of Engineering and Computational Sciences Donor-Impact Academic STEM Center
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu