MTSU Mondays: International team title; top 3 chef sizzles; summer STEM camp

Here's the latest news from Middle Tennessee State University.

Hard work, impressive preparation and presentation and 10 MTSU Construction Management team members committing 500 to 600-plus hours across two semesters led to winning the National Association of Home Builders Student Competition top award earlier this year.

Considered an international event with college and high school divisions and held in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the city’s convention center, MTSU shined in the main event — the four-year production homes competition that MTSU has won previously. The team finished ahead of Texas A&M and Michigan State.

“We believe we have the hardest working students in the country, and they proved that at the competition. The future is bright for our Land Development and Residential Building program,” said Tom Nicholas, professor and director of the MTSU School of Concrete and Construction Management.

Tasks span across market research, land development due diligence, sales, marketing, home design, financial proformas, risk analysis and book design, said junior Ronnie Merrill of Kenton, Tennessee, a construction management major, team leader and MTSU NAHB student chapter president. It is a volunteer-based extracurricular activity.

“This award within the residential construction industry community is equivalent to winning a bowl championship,” Merrill said. “Very few people across the country in any construction management program have the ability to say they won this award.

“Knowing that it has been a while since MTSU has brought home this award was just unbelievable. The credit really goes to the staff and faculty.”

He was joined on the team by junior Vidal Polk of Smyrna, junior John Crow of Nashville, senior Robert Deetjen of Napierville, Illinois, senior Alex Becker of Mt. Juliet, senior John Timm of Christiana, senior Brian Pierce of Franklin, and junior Joshua Hilliard of Coleman, Michigan — all construction management majors —and junior interior design majors Allison Lampley of Memphis, and Annalise Phillips of Nolensville.

MTSU chef whips up award-winning dish for regional culinary competition

MTSU chef Mike Wojciechowski combined his passion for cooking with his penchant for competition to create an award-winning combination.

Wojciechowski — who oversees McCallie Dining Hall inside Keathley University Center and Farmers Market Dining Hall inside the Student Union— recently garnered third place in the regional collegiate Aramark Culinary Excellence Competition, or ACE.

The residential food services director faced off against eight other chefs at the competition held at Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia.

“We’re so lucky to have him at MTSU,” said Rachel Hunter, marketing manager for Aramark Collegiate Hospitality Services, which operates the dining facilities on the MTSU campus.

In addition to day-to-day dining operations, Wojciechowski likes to experiment.

“I’ve always been a student of cooking and developed a passion for it,” Wojciechowski said. “I’m always open to learning new ways of doing things.”

This is the first year Wojciechowski competed in the annual showcase of Aramark talent from across the country.

Chefs were given parameters, with the first main requirement devising a meal that utilized a whole chicken.

Wojciechowski’s rich German heritage inspired his menu of chicken schnitzel, German potato salad and a quick sauerkraut. Schnitzel, a very common dish in German fare, is a thin slice of meat that is tenderized and breaded.

He’s already planning for next year’s competition, and he might also add his award-winning meal to the menu at McCallie. Read the full story and watch a video at mtsunews.com.

Registration for MTSU summer STEM camp open until May 15

For high school students entering the 10th through 12th grades in the Midstate, the MTSU College of Basic and Applied Sciences’ third annual summer STEM camp has a variety of educational and fun activities.

You will receive a sample of Engineering Technology, Physics, Science Education and more that are a part of STEM — science, technology, engineering and math. Students will learn about quantum computing, the chemistry of foods and more in classes and have fun in the Student Union game room, Campus Recreation Center and movie theater.

Registration remains open until May 15 or until the 70 camp slots are filled. The fee to attend is $250. To register, visit https://mtsu.edu/cbas/summercampregister.php.

“This camp is an opportunity for students to interact with STEM faculty and students at MTSU while also learning some of the STEM topics and programs offered at MTSU,” said Heather Green, master instructor and MTeach program coordinator. “In addition, student groups will have an undergraduate and a graduate facilitator with them all day. Those facilitators will be able to answer questions about life as an MTSU student, STEM majors and STEM careers.”

The camp is a collaboration with the MTSU Tennessee STEM Education Center. For more information, call 615-898-2613 or read the full story at mtsunews.com.

MTSU Mondays content is provided by submissions from MTSU News and Media Relations.