Contact: Thonnia Lee, Office of Strategic Communications
Students from the Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science participated in the 2026 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Student Competition, part of the International Builders' Show (IBS) and earned second place in the student competition.
The TU NAHB Team participated in the Four-Year and Graduate Programs Custom/Small Home Builder Division, which consisted of 36 teams. Tuskegee finished ahead of the University of Oklahoma and only .25 points behind the first-place team, Kennesaw State University.
Also receiving recognition were Outstanding Students Award recipients Jayden Woullard, graduating senior, Architecture major, and Kaleizhanae’ Bell, graduating dual major senior Architecture & Construction Science and Management major.
The NAHB Student Competition is designed to challenge students’ knowledge of residential development, time management, organizational skills, and presentation skills. Students analyze a real-world residential site to develop a comprehensive proposal that includes building plans, site logistics, safety plans, and financial projections. The competition deliverable includes submitting a written proposal and delivering a live, in-person presentation to industry executives who judge the entries.
“It is important that we expose our students to competitive opportunities like the NAHB competition so that they understand in real-time the impact of their planning and how to put their classroom and lab skills to work,” said Dr. Catherine Armwood, Dean of the Robert R. Taylor School of Architecture and Construction Science. “Once again we have shown that the training our students receive at Tuskegee is able to compete with others across the country.”
The 2026 TU NAHB team presented Serenity Pointe at Lake Martin, a 7,176-square-foot, five-bedroom, four-bath estate with a covered boat deck and constructed beach nestled on .97 acres of lakefront property in the Miners Cove community of Alexander City, Alabama.
The team listed the property at $2,750,000, with a forecasted profit of $881, 800, and a 32.07 percent rate of return. The team was led by DaNia Patterson, a graduating dual major senior Architecture and Construction Science and Management major competing in her third NAHB student competition.
“The past three years participating on the competition team have been an honor serving as co-captain for one year and captain for two years,” she said. “I would like to give a huge thank you to our industry coach, Dr. Charner Rodgers and Mr. Knox Newell, our architecture construction advis
ors, Professor Vicki Carter, Carla Robinson and Department Chair Rogers Hunt for equipping me to lead the team to win and for their dedication to developing industry-ready young professionals.”
“The NAHB Student Competition is one of the more rigorous construction management competitions, requiring students to demonstrate breadth of knowledge in design, construction, and business; however, it serves as an excellent assessment of student learning outcomes for both the CSM and Architecture programs,” said Rogers Hunt III ’93, chair of the Construction Science Department.
And the Tuskegee University Central Florida Alumni Chapter wanted the students know they were behind them.
The chapter hosted the students when they arrived in Orlando last month and celebrated their work in advance.
“When legacy shows up to support learning, excellence is no longer pursued alone it is carried forward together,” said Crystal Jones Jenkins ’96, the chapter president.
The students traveled to compete thanks to support by the Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association, the National Housing Endowment America’s Home Place, Turner Construction and the Tuskegee University Southwest Georgia Alumni Chapter.
“The Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association is proud to support Tuskegee University not only through financial contributions, but also through meaningful industry mentorship and engagement,” said Angela Allen, Executive Officer of Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association. “Investing in these students is an investment in the future of residential construction. Watching their success at the International Builders Show reinforces why this partnership matters and we are honored to play a role in their journey.
© 2026 Tuskegee University
