Congratulations to Olivia Kiefer, Recipient of the Ferguson Women in the Mechanical Industry Scholarship

“Mechanical systems are the lungs of every project. They ultimately make the project usable and continue to get more and more complex. As a construction engineering student specializing in mechanical systems, I have realized that they have the greatest effect on energy consumption, sustainability, and human comfort. The largest problems that construction will face in the coming years are water and energy. Mechanical systems directly affect these problems, and I want to have a personal hand in how these problems can be mitigated. There is a huge opportunity for continuous learning, and I love to learn. Being in an industry that values growth and learning is exciting to me.

In my student chapter, I have grown as a leader by bringing new people to the club and nearly doubling its size. I have been very involved with MCA of Iowa and their members, which has allowed me to see a mixture of large and small contractors. In the local chapter, I have built a lot of strong relationships that will carry me through my career.

MCAA’s GreatFutures Forum and the MCAA Convention have made me see and feel the culture of mechanical contracting. With this culture comes the opportunity to network and ask questions to a variety of people. Having a space where students can interact with contractors in a social setting allows students to learn and network. I can’t stress enough how many relationships being part of MCAA has given me. I plan to come back to Iowa State and speak to the MCA chapter after graduation and attend as many events as possible to support the chapter as best I can.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Olivia on this prestigious scholarship and thank Ferguson for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.