Youngstown State CCET team takes second in statewide estimating competition

Students in Youngstown State University’s Civil and Construction Engineering Technology program earned second place at the Ohio Contractors Association Annual Estimating Competition, held March 13 – 14.

The two-day competition brought together teams from 10 different Ohio universities, challenging students to prepare a comprehensive construction cost estimate under real-world conditions. Participating schools included Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, Ohio Northern University, Ohio University, The University of Akron, The University of Cincinnati, The University of Dayton, The University of Toledo and Kent State University.

YSU’s team was mentored by Joe Sanson, associate professor in computer science, information and engineering technology, with additional guidance from industry mentor Joe Brown of Beaver Excavating. Their combined academic and industry support helped prepare students for the competition's real-world demands.

During the event, teams were assigned a construction project and tasked with developing a complete estimate within a single day. The OCA designed the competition to mirror industry practices, providing subcontractors quotes, addenda and project documentation to simulate an active construction bid.

Following submission, judges evaluated each bid for accuracy and responsiveness. Teams then delivered formal presentations, explaining their estimated process and defending their decisions during a question-and-answer session.

After two days of competition, YSU earned second place, finishing behind The University of Akron and ahead of Case Western Reserve University.

YSU’s strong finish highlights the program’s first emphasis on hands-on learning and industry collaboration, preparing students for careers in construction management and engineering technology.