Future Builders Get Hands-On in Dallas High School Design-Build Showdown
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Some North Texas high schoolers will take their blueprints from paper to reality this week as they compete for scholarships and learn what a career in construction could look like. More than 275 students from 16 Texas high schools will gather May 7–8 at Dallas College’s Cedar Valley Campus in Lancaster for the 2025 Dallas-Fort Worth Design Build Competition, hosted by the Construction Industry Education Foundation CIEF.
The students will construct structures on-site while showcasing technical skills, safety practices, and teamwork. Each project will be judged by industry professionals on design execution, build quality, code compliance, and collaboration.
Events like this come at a crucial time for the construction industry, which is facing a nationwide labor shortage. According to Associated Builders and Contractors, the U.S. construction sector will need to attract more than 439,000 new workers in 2025 to meet demand. Fewer young people are entering the field, while the number of workers over age 60 continues to climb. Early exposure through vocational programs like CIEF’s can be a game-changer, introducing students to stable, high-paying careers they may not have considered.
The Design Build Competition is part of a broader, multi-state CIEF initiative that includes events in California, Oregon, Indiana, and Houston. Thanks to industry support, the program is free for both students and schools. Many of the completed structures are later donated or sold to benefit nonprofits or school-based career programs. CIEF also awards scholarships to graduating seniors pursuing careers in construction, architecture, and the trades.
Platinum sponsors for this year’s event include the Andersen Corporate Foundation, Chesmar Foundation, DPR Construction, Dallas College, MDM Scaffolding, Procore, and Sunbelt Rentals, in addition to several cornerstone and team sponsors.
This year’s 2025 DFW Board of Directors of the CIEF Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter includes:
- Jared Roden of DRC Construction (chapter president)
- David Howell of DPR Construction (chapter vice president)
- Cathie Figueroa of Ferguson Waterworks (chapter secretary and treasurer)
- Joshua Garay of Garay’s Concrete (Director)
- Joana Velasco of Chesmar Homes (Director)
- Jerold Nichols of Amber Electrical Contractors, Inc. (Director)
- Jeanine Jansen of Royal Electric Company (Director)
- Landon Johnstone of TDIndustries, Inc. (Director)
- Jenna Edwards of Marriott (Marketing/Social Media Chair)
- Becca Neu of Neuco & Associates, Inc. (Director)
- Ryker Wallace of Hensel Phelps (Fundraising Event Chair)
- Shelley Hines of DCG Environmental, LLC. (Director)
These professionals represent a cross-section of North Texas construction, engineering, and development firms, underscoring the region’s commitment to workforce development and industry mentorship.
Learn more about CIEF’s programs and learn how to volunteer as an industry professional at www.cie.foundation.
