{"id":27059,"date":"2025-09-08T13:32:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T17:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/rinker\/?p=27059"},"modified":"2025-09-26T09:02:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T13:02:49","slug":"rinker-school-hosts-annual-welcome-back-reception","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/rinker\/rinker-school-hosts-annual-welcome-back-reception\/","title":{"rendered":"Rinker School Hosts Annual Welcome Back Reception"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Friday, September 5, 2025<\/strong>
By: Kyle Niblett<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The packed event kicked off with a message from Rinker School Director Robert F. Cox<\/a>, who spoke about Rinker\u2019s 90th<\/sup> anniversary this year. He also emphasized the wealth of opportunities available\u2014from internships and graduate programs to study abroad experiences around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat 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,\u201d Cox said. \u201cWe\u2019re sustaining ourselves and exceeding our own dreams because more students want to get in. We are now a \u2018found\u2019 major and truly something people want to be a part of. That makes me have a lot of hope for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cox then introduced incoming Rinker School Industry Advisory Board<\/a> (RSIAB) President Nick Salce<\/a>, 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\u2019s goals were and informed them of the various alumni clubs around the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reception, which included dinner for all attendees, was sponsored by the Weitz Company. Ryan Hullihan<\/a>, senior project manager at Weitz, noted the company\u2019s 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\u2019s Rinker Career Fair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event continued with a brief history of Rinker from Instructional Assistant Professor Eileen Pesantes-Taveres<\/a>, followed by Undergraduate Program Director James G. Sullivan<\/a> going over Rinker\u2019s plethora of internship opportunities. After that, various faculty members spoke on Rinker\u2019s exchange programs in Australia and Germany, as well as its study abroad programs in Italy, Peru and Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As evening drew near, the incoming juniors\u2014known as \u201cJ1s\u201d\u2014proudly received their Rinker hard hats and vests, while members of the Class of 2029 and new graduate students were gifted Rinker shirts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The night ended with the students being fed Sonny\u2019s BBQ and filling the hallways to connect with representatives from Rinker\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat makes Rinker special is how much they really care about each and every student,\u201d junior Julia McKee<\/a> said. \u201cThe faculty, staff and students make up a great team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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