MILFORD – On Friday, January 25, 2013, six students and one staff member from Southeast Community College’s (SCC) Building Construction Technology (BCT) program finally arrived home in Milford, after leaving the city and the state four days earlier to go on a field trip to Las Vegas, Nev.
There, these seven individuals attended the International Builders’ Show (IBS), organized by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
IBS was held at Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) on January 22 through 24. It was notable for featuring a speech by Michael Eisner at the opening ceremony. Eisner is a past Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company and founder and CEO of The Tornante Company.
IBS is America’s largest annual residential housing construction trade event for manufacturers and suppliers of home construction products and services.
Over 50,000 home builders, remodelers, architects, building material dealers and distributors attend this event.
“IBS is held two to three years in Las Vegas and two to three years in Orlando,” said Dave Rainforth, one of the instructors in the BCT program at SCC and faculty adviser to students who participate in Home Builder activities.
“At IBS, there are over 300 educational stations to visit,” he explained. “One of the activities the students participated in was the New American Home. NAHB contracts an architect and contractor to build a home with several product companies displaying their new “bells and whistles products.”
“Over 60,000 people from around the world come to see the latest products,” Rainforth added.
Cost to the students was $175 plus personal expenses while in Las Vegas. They each received a $100 National Housing Endowment IBS scholarship to use towards their expenses of attending the IBS.
According to Rainforth, “They had to participate in several activities while at the show. These included the Student Chapters Award Ceremony.”
SCC’s Student Chapter pays for the hotel expenses. These funds come from a donation from the Home Builders Association of Lincoln (HBAL) and the National Housing Endowment IBS scholarship.
SCC’s Student Chapter took part in several activities at IBS. They viewed school competition and listened to presentations.
All six students who traveled to Las Vegas are in SCC’s Building Construction department; and every student who is in SCC’s Architecture and Building Construction department is allowed to participate in Home Builder activities. These activities are sponsored by HBAL.
HBAL holds four or five meetings a year and has guest speakers. The meetings are held at Champions Club, located across the UNL stadium.
HBAL also oversees the Parade of Homes.
“Our students go around and see how builders address issues with home building,” explained Rainforth. “Our students network with real builders. They meet them, introduce themselves, and become friends.”
Regarding Parade of Homes, Rainforth had this to say: “Parade of Homes are held in the spring and one in the fall. Another activity that the students participate in
is the Tours of Remodeled homes held in the spring. At Tour of Remodeled Homes, there are 12 to 15 remodelers who show off their work.”
A summer activity allows students have a Night Out with the Saltdogs. Another networking activity with the home builders.