CHICAGO – Members of a building trade student association at Illinois State University (ISU) are giving back to the community — by helping to build the community. Recently, they were recognized for their achievements by a national construction association.

Like many college groups, the members of the ISU Mechanical Electrical Student Association (MESA) take part in homecoming events. They work with Relay for Life to help in the fight against cancer. They also participate in Trick or Treat for Change to help fund Habitat for Humanity. These activities would be considered exceptional for any group of students — but the members of MESA do even more.

Through Habitat for Humanity, they help in building homes for people in need. Also, they have raised funds for, designed, built and painted a special playroom for the autistic child of a low-income family.

“We worked closely with the child’s parents,” said Mitchell McClellan, president of MESA. “The building of the room included drywall, paint, carpeting, and a playset with a ball-pit. Everything is appropriate for his medical condition. We even sanded down all the corners and edges in the room for maximum safety.”

For these contributions to the community, as well as other achievements, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) presented its 2009 Student Chapter of the Year Award to MESA during the Awards of Excellence Breakfast at the recent MCAA annual convention in San Francisco, CA. MESA is sponsored by the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) of Chicago.

“These students are giving back to the community before their full-time careers have even begun,” said Stephen Lamb, Executive Vice President of MCA of Chicago. “We are proud of them and see them as excellent role models for other students aspiring to construction careers.”

Lamb also stated, “We are grateful to our member contractors who work with and hire students from our student chapter. Their support makes this entire venture possible, and the guidance they give to these students will help them to someday become industry leaders.”

The MCAA Career Development Committee chose the winner on the basis of several criteria, including membership recruitment, fundraising, community involvement, promotion of student interest in the industry, and members’ employment with mechanical, service and plumbing contractors as interns or full-time employees.

“These young people represent the future of construction,” Lamb said. “They don’t just wait for things to happen in life – they make things happen.”

For information on how to become involved with student chapters, please contact Jen Murray at jmurray@mca.org or call the MCA of Chicago office at 312-384-1220.