Ray Buyle
2015 Outstanding Educator
Assistant Professor, Architectural Engineering and Construction Science
Kansas State University
Ray Buyle, the 2015 Outstanding Educator from Kansas State University, was hired by Kansas State University as a full-time instructor in 2007, and promoted to assistant professor in 2010. Prior to teaching, Buyle had over 20 years of experience in the construction industry.
Buyle has guided the Kansas State Student Chapter of AGC since 2008 as assistant advisor and advisor, guiding student-led projects in support of nonprofits, schools and charitable organizations. He also led student teams on alternative spring break trips to New Orleans and Joplin to help with disaster recovery and led the student chapter on a spring break trip to Goldsboro, NC to work with Habitat for Humanity.
Buyle is also active with the Kansas AGC, American Society of Engineering Educators, the Design-Build Institute of America, and Sigma Lambda Chi Honorary Construction Society.
The Outstanding Educator award is based on a nominee’s academic contribution as well as his/her work with students outside of the classroom and involvement with colleagues in the industry. Candidates for the award must be full-time, teaching faculty members with four years minimum teaching experience in an ACCE or ABET accredited university construction program or construction-related engineering program.
Chris Lierheimer
Colorado State University / 2015 Allhands Essay Winner
Chris Lierheimer, a senior in construction management at Colorado State University, is the 2015 winner of the James L. Allhands Essay Competition for his essay, “Building and Growing with Mobile
Technology.” Lierheimer and his faculty sponsor, Dr. Mehmet E. Ozbek, were honored at the 2015 AGC Annual Convention.
Lierheimer was born in Denver, Colorado and graduated from Evergreen High School. He attended the University of Denver for two years as a Mechanical Engineering major before transferring to Colorado State University to pursue a career in Construction Management. He is currently in his final semester of school at Colorado State and will be seeking full time employment upon graduation in May.
Lierheimer is also involved in a number of on and off campus pursuits. He balances his passion for videography, aerial photography and flight with class work, competition teams, and volunteering with CM Cares, which is a construction outreach program created at Colorado State University. In addition to his academic pursuits, Chris is currently building a small home in Evergreen that he plans to complete and sell over the summer before taking a job.
Dr. Mehmet Ozbek
2015 Allhands Essay Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Mehmet E. Ozbek is an associate professor and the graduate program coordinator in the Department of Construction Management at Colorado State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a focus on Construction Engineering and Management. He has been very active in state and federally funded projects related to transportation. His work has been published in numerous professional journals and publications. He is serving as the faculty advisor for the Construction Management Association of America Student Chapter at Colorado State University.
Second Place--Paul Shaw, Texas A&M
Third Place Tie--Devin Doster, Ball State and David Dylan John, Georgia Southern