Friday, September 5, 2025
By: Kyle Niblett
The M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management welcomed its newest students Thursday with its annual Welcome Reception, highlighted by the signature Hard Hat Ceremony for the incoming junior class. This semester marks the most freshmen in school history and the highest percentage of women enrolled.
The packed event kicked off with a message from Rinker School Director Robert F. Cox, who spoke about Rinker’s 90th anniversary this year. He also emphasized the wealth of opportunities available—from internships and graduate programs to study abroad experiences around the world.
“What gives me so much hope about the future is the fact that all of these young people are so bright and excited to get accepted into Rinker,” Cox said. “We’re sustaining ourselves and exceeding our own dreams because more students want to get in. We are now a ‘found’ major and truly something people want to be a part of. That makes me have a lot of hope for the future.”
Cox then introduced incoming Rinker School Industry Advisory Board (RSIAB) President Nick Salce, who serves as the Design Build Pursuit Manager at Kiewit Engineering Group. The 1992 Rinker grad told the standing-room only crowd what the RSIAB’s goals were and informed them of the various alumni clubs around the state.
The reception, which included dinner for all attendees, was sponsored by the Weitz Company. Ryan Hullihan, senior project manager at Weitz, noted the company’s long-standing ties with Rinker, pointing out that many of its employees are program alumni. He added that Weitz continues to actively recruit from the college and will participate in this month’s Rinker Career Fair.
The event continued with a brief history of Rinker from Instructional Assistant Professor Eileen Pesantes-Taveres, followed by Undergraduate Program Director James G. Sullivan going over Rinker’s plethora of internship opportunities. After that, various faculty members spoke on Rinker’s exchange programs in Australia and Germany, as well as its study abroad programs in Italy, Peru and Japan.
As evening drew near, the incoming juniors—known as “J1s”—proudly received their Rinker hard hats and vests, while members of the Class of 2029 and new graduate students were gifted Rinker shirts.
The night ended with the students being fed Sonny’s BBQ and filling the hallways to connect with representatives from Rinker’s many student organizations. Groups such as Gator Safety Professionals (GSP), the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), the Green Building Club, and the UF Student Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) were on hand to share their missions and opportunities, giving the newest members of the Rinker community an early start on getting involved.
“What makes Rinker special is how much they really care about each and every student,” junior Jessica McKee said. “The faculty, staff and students make up a great team.”
