What's next for the Class of 2018: Samuel Hathaway

As Purdue Polytechnic’s May 2018 graduates move into their careers, we are profiling a few and finding out their future plans and how they arrived at this point in their lives.

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Samuel HathawaySamuel Hathaway, Woodburn, Indiana

Field Engineer, Renascent, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Education

Bachelor’s degree in construction management technology with concentration in demolition and restoration management in the built environment; certificate in entrepreneurship & innovation

Job duties

I will oversee demolition procedures, safety standards, complete manifests for demolition debris being hauled away. Part of my day will be in the office and the other part will be in the field. I will be in constant communication with field and office staff.

Purdue classes that helped Samuel prepare for his job

  • BCM 330 (Intro to Demolition)
  • BCM 331 (Demolition and Restoration Project Management)
  • BCM 457 (Safety)
  • BCM 345 (Scheduling)
  • BCM 355 (Construction Site Supervision)

In these courses, I learned about the movement of projects and how to conduct myself and those around me in a safety-minded manner.

What was a favorite aspect of your major?

My favorite things about my major are the real-life application labs. Using the crane in the basement of Knoy was an awesome experience that shows students the true potential of our careers in the field. I truly enjoyed being in Emad Elwakil’s, Scott Santon’s, Cy Rangel’s, Mark Shaurette’s, and James Jenkin’s courses. Each of these professors created a classroom that was both educational and engaging.

In what other ways did the college or University help prepare you for your new position?

One of the requirements of the CMT major is 800 hours of work experience. Having two whole summers of full-time work in the industry gave me an edge over my competition because experience is a huge component of construction. I was also able to interact with my peers on many different projects that allowed me to build my team skills to be both a good leader and a good helper.

Who would you like to thank as you finish your time at Purdue and start your career?

  • Steve and Linda Hathaway, my parents, who have been a constant support in my career at Purdue.
  • My friends Nick Leffert, Samantha Berg, Casie Blair, Austin Franz, Lars Henderson, and countless others for their advice and patience through long nights of studying, and helping me to feel at home always.
  • All of my professors for their experience and friendliness. I asked a lot of questions and got a lot of good answers.
  • Scott Hines, assistant director in the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. He taught me and challenged me to be the best performer I can be, and he is an incredible role model.