Facility management students hear from experts in Phoenix

Five students pursuing graduate certificates in [facility management] (http://archone.tamu.edu/crs/Activities/FM/) at Texas A&M heard presentations at a conference in Phoenix by experts in the field, a trip that was part of a scholarship award package they earned last fall.

The scholars attended the 2011 International Facility Management Association’s World Workplace Annual Conference Oct. 26-28 with funds from the IFMA Foundation, a group that considers profession to be heavily dependent on those preparing to enter the field and therefore supports deserving students to ensure the quality of the built environment.

“Their scholarships included conference registration, two-way flight tickets, accommodations and meals, so they were able to attend the conference without making any additional out-of-pocket expenses,” said Sarel Lavy, associate director of the CRS Center for Leadership and Management in the Design and Construction Industry, which manages the certificate program.

The conference included more than 60 presentations by leaders in the field covering a broad span of topics including environmental stewardship and sustainability, project management, leadership and strategy, finance and business, operations and maintenance, real estate and property management, human factors, quality, communication, technology and emergency preparedness and business continuity.

“Our students received five of the 36 scholarships awarded, which is very impressive,” said Lavy. “It was the largest number of students from Texas A&M recognized by IFMA in a single year for their excellence in studying facility management.”

Students vying for the IFMA scholarships were asked to detail their achievements and organizational involvement, submit a letter of professional intent, resume and an employer/faculty letter of recommendation.

The IFMA awarded a total of $15,000 in scholarships to the five students in individual amounts varying from $5,000 to $2,000.