Huntsville, Alabama native Jack Blacklock had always planned to stay in his home state through college.
A senior building construction science major, his parents are Auburn graduates, and he said Auburn also has a great program for those interested in his field.
However鈥攍ike so many other students who visit MSU before making a final decision鈥攈e realized he was meant to be a Bulldog.
鈥淎fter coming here and talking with Dr. Ford, this program just seemed to fit me,鈥 said Blacklock, remembering his introduction to George Ford, BCS professor and director.
A community college transfer student from Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama, Blacklock said he鈥檚 really enjoyed college at both levels. At Marion, he played baseball for two years while completing coursework. At MSU, he鈥檚 been honing the skills needed to enter the workforce. This semester, he鈥檚 completing a field operations co-op with Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors in Nashville, Tennessee. 听
鈥淏eginning about my eighth-grade year, I took an interest in how homes are built. Designing a building and the science behind why you do certain things really caught my attention. When I toured MSU, Dr. Ford explained to me that this is a small, close-knit major. Our class has 40-50 people in it, and I know all of them,鈥 he said.
鈥淚 like how we are so close knit, and that鈥檚 really what I enjoy most about the program.鈥
Blacklock said BCS projects are geared toward students learning hands-on skills they will actually use in the field. In addition to construction, students learn about estimating, scheduling and other aspects of the building process.
He also appreciates how BCS student project teams mimic teams of professionals collaborating in the 鈥渞eal world.鈥
鈥淲e get assigned to different roles, like superintendent, project manager or foreman, and everybody has a job,鈥 he said of the studio-based work.
Another aspect of the program Blacklock enjoys has been building tiny houses on campus, which he described as one of the most intensive learning opportunities in the program.
鈥淲hen I came here, I really didn鈥檛 have too much knowledge about construction, but [Assistant Clinical Professor] Lee Carson builds houses for a living in addition to teaching our studio A and B classes,鈥 Blacklock said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 really suited to teach, and I鈥檇 say the tiny house projects have been my favorite part and have helped me learn the most.鈥
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