by Clem Boyd, Communication Content Manager
The Kokosing group of companies, one of the largest family-owned construction conglomerates in the country, has committed $100,000 to the construction of Cedarville University’s new civil engineering building, slated for completion in fall 2020.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Kokosing works primarily throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. The primary business lines are transportation, commercial, industrial, power, water and wastewater facilities, marine, pipelines and more. Kokosing employs 3,500 people and has revenues exceeding $1.5 billion annually.
Kokosing was founded by Bill Burgett in 1951, and the company remains wholly owned by the Burgett family. Bill was tenacious in his faith and established Kokosing upon these faith-based principles among other core values including operating with integrity and being a good member of the community.
Kokosing and the Burgett family partner with universities throughout the state to promote engineering programs, and to expose students to hands-on construction and engineering experiences. This commitment is the company’s first contribution to Cedarville University.
Kokosing is pleased to partner with a university with a mission that aligns with the company guiding statement. Two third-generation members of the Burgett Family, Brooke Hoeflich and Tiffany Loose, graduated from Cedarville University. Kokosing looks forward to working with the university to establish internships and co-op opportunities, which have the potential to result in employment opportunities for Cedarville civil engineering graduates.
Cedarville began its civil engineering program in 2018, and the program has already experienced tremendous growth. Anticipating 10 students in the first year, instead 30 enrolled. Application numbers for the program indicate even higher demand in the future, which prompted the efforts to build a new civil engineering facility with labs, classrooms and faculty office space.
Civil engineering includes large-scale infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges and community water systems. A number of Cedarville civil engineering majors have indicated their desire to use their education in impoverished locations to help provide good roads and safe, clean water.
The Kokosing gift is part of Cedarville’s ongoing efforts to find both private and public partners for the civil engineering building project.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,193 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including its bachelor of science in civil engineering program, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.