MCAA’s signature project for student chapters each year is the annual Student Chapter Competition. The competition gives students the opportunity to put their classroom learning to the test as they create a bid for a real-life mechanical construction project.
Competition Description
The project’s scope incorporates components such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), green requirements, mechanical service, and new technologies, to name a few. MCAA provides the drawings, background information, specs and other details; the rest is up to the team. The project is contributed by a MCAA member company from a past or current job. The competition information is distributed on Procore.org. All participating students and faculty advisors are given complimentary access to the software, where all the documents and RFIs can be viewed and all the proposals are submitted for review.
Competition Weblem Access
The next generation WebLEM brings new benefits to the industry’s most reliable, authoritative resource for comprehensive labor units for typical project tasks.
WebLEM Brochure
WebLEM Login Instructions (MCAA student chapter users)
WebLEM Website
WebLEM Token Instructions (MCAA student chapter faculty advisors)
Competition Advising
Contractors can act as mentors for the students as they navigate the scope of the competition, as well as give guidance and feedback. In no way should contractors contribute any components of the Student Chapter Competition project.
COMPETITION RESOURCE LIBRARY
Students are also encouraged to take advantage of MCAA’s online resources.
2024-2025 Competition Video
Competition Process
The competition starts in September with the launch of the project. Teams work until December to build their proposals and submit to the Career Development Committee through Procore®. The submitted packages include required documents such as:
- Executive summary
- Team resumes
- Corporate qualifications and financials
- Project management plan
- Project estimate
- Project schedule
- Service plan
- Safety plan
Once these proposals have been submitted a group of judges (MCAA contractor members) will evaluate these proposals and narrow it down to the final four. The judging criteria is based on the quality and completeness of the proposal, workplan and project specific planning, estimate for quantity and manhours, overall cost, and the ability to provide a plan or information that clearly separates one from the competition.
The “final four” teams are invited to present their packages to a panel of judges and an audience of contractors at the annual MCAA Convention. The winner and other finalists are recognized during a special awards breakfast at the Convention. Six additional teams receive Merit Awards for their work. Want to see a potential intern or new hire at work? This is a great way to see how they perform under pressure!
Special thank you to DEWALT for sponsoring the prizes for the Student Chapter Competition.
PREVIOUS FINAL FOUR TEAMS
| Year | Final Four Teams |
|---|---|
| 2025 | McMaster University |
| 2025 | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo |
| 2025 | California State University, Chico |
| 2025 | Pittsburg State University |
| 2024 | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo |
| 2024 | Ball State University |
| 2024 | McMaster University |
| 2024 | University of Wisconsin-Stout |
| 2023 | Pittsburg State University |
| 2023 | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo |
| 2023 | Fairleigh Dickinson University |
| 2023 | McMaster University |
| 2022 | McMaster University |
| 2022 | Kansas State University |
| 2022 | Kent State University |
| 2022 | Missouri State University |
| 2021 | Fairleigh Dickinson University |
| 2021 | Kansas State University |
| 2021 | Missouri State University |
| 2021 | Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Campus |
| 2020 | Ball State University |
| 2020 | University of Maryland, College Park |
| 2020 | University of Missouri-Columbia |
| 2020 | Milwaukee School of Engineering |
| 2019 | Milwaukee School of Engineering |
| 2019 | McMaster University |
| 2019 | University of Missouri-Columbia |
| 2019 | Wentworth Institute of Technology |
| 2018 | Colorado State University |
| 2018 | Fairleigh Dickinson University |
| 2018 | University of Washington |
| 2018 | Wentworth Institute of Technology |
| 2017 | University of Missouri-Columbia |
| 2017 | Colorado State University |
| 2017 | Milwaukee School of Engineering |
| 2017 | University of Nebraska Lincoln |
| 2016 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
| 2016 | Colorado State University |
| 2016 | Kennesaw State University |
| 2016 | Wentworth Institute of Technology |
| 2015 | McMaster University |
| 2015 | Colorado State University |
| 2015 | University of Washington |
| 2015 | Wentworth Institute of Technology |
| 2014 | Southern Polytechnic State University |
| 2014 | California State University, Sacramento |
| 2014 | Milwaukee School of Engineering |
| 2014 | University of Maryland, College Park |
| 2013 | Milwaukee School of Engineering |
| 2013 | Northeastern University |
| 2013 | Southern Polytechnic State University |
| 2013 | University of Washington |
| 2012 | Southern Polytechnic State University |
| 2012 | California State University, Sacramento |
| 2012 | Illinois State University |
| 2012 | Milwaukee School of Engineering |
| 2011 | Milwaukee School of Engineering |
| 2011 | Colorado State University |
| 2011 | Pittsburg State University |
| 2011 | University of Washington |
| 2010 | University of Washington |
| 2010 | Colorado State University |
| 2010 | Oregon State University |
| 2010 | University of Wisconsin-Stout |
| 2009 | Northeastern University |
| 2009 | Purdue University |
| 2009 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
| 2009 | University of Washington |
| 2008 | University of Washington |
| 2008 | Colorado State University |
| 2008 | Milwaukee School of Engineering |
| 2008 | Northeastern University |
| 2007 | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo |
| 2007 | Georgia Tech |
| 2007 | Oregon State University |
| 2007 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
| 2006 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
| 2006 | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo |
| 2006 | Milwaukee School of Engineering |
| 2006 | Purdue University |
| 2005 | Oregon State University |
| 2005 | Purdue University |
| 2005 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
| 2005 | University of Washington |
| 2004 | Georgia Tech |
| 2004 | California State Polytechnic University, Pomona |
| 2004 | Illinois State University |
| 2004 | Purdue University |
| 2003 | California State Polytechnic University, Pomona |
| 2003 | Ferris State University |
| 2003 | Purdue University |
| 2003 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
| 2002 | University of Washington |
| 2002 | Purdue University |
| 2002 | Texas A&M University |
| 2002 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
PREVIOUS MOST VALUABLE PRESENTER
| Competition MVPs | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Parker Jenkins | Pittsburg State University |
| 2024 | Hans Stelpflug | University of Wisconsin-Stout |
| 2023 | Braden Deck | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo |
| 2022 | Leisha Fernando | McMaster University |
| 2019 | Carmen Bracho | McMaster University |
The Latest Award Winners
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