April 06, 2023
For Blake and Brady Murr, civil engineering is more than a degree. It鈥檚 an opportunity to improve communities. And it鈥檚 a legacy worth preserving.
鈥淥ur grandfather owned a construction company in Macon, Missouri,鈥 Blake said. 鈥淗e retired by the time we were born, but he still had the equipment, and we grew up around that, helping with projects around the house.鈥
鈥淎nd our dad works for MoDOT, so we鈥檝e been around it our whole lives,鈥 Brady added.
So the twins were thrilled to each received a from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Missouri last month. While the funding for school helps, they both agreed the award means more than paying the bills.
鈥淓specially since it鈥檚 the AGC and has such close ties with the construction industry,鈥 Blake said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 validating and shows we鈥檙e on the right path.鈥
For much of their lives, the Murrs have shared that path. They started college together at Moberly Area Community College (MACC), which they agreed provided a smooth entryway into Mizzou. For a couple of semesters, they took classes both at MACC鈥檚 Columbia location and at Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒.
鈥淭he engineering program at MACC is designed to fit Mizzou, so we knew everything would transfer,鈥 Blake said. 鈥淚t was a seamless transition.鈥
The Murrs became full time students at Mizzou this semester and are now taking many of the same classes as they pursue a major in civil engineering and minor in construction management. They鈥檙e also involved in helping build the bridge for the Steel Bridge Team, which they especially enjoy.
鈥淭here are a lot of people and opportunities at Mizzou,鈥 Blake said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to get connected.鈥
And they鈥檝e already gotten to know civil engineering faculty, a close-knit group committed to student success.
鈥淭here are opportunities to get to know professors early on,鈥 Brady said. 鈥淓ven in classes where there are a lot of students, you get to know professors pretty well.鈥
In addition to classes, Brady works part-time at Emery Sapp & Sons in Columbia, where he interned last summer and will again this summer. In his role there, he鈥檚 had opportunities to work alongside project managers on bridge projects using a variety of materials including non-traditional concrete.
Blake conducted an internship at Capital Paving and Construction in Jefferson City and plans to intern there again this year. He enjoyed learning about all aspects of the industry, from the bid process to construction and quality control testing.
Last summer was the first time the twins went their separate ways, but while they work for different companies, they both share a goal to someday become project managers at heavy civil construction companies in the state.
鈥淭he construction industry is booming, and I don鈥檛 see that slowing down,鈥 Brady said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 reassuring.鈥
But, for the Murrs 鈥 who lost their grandfather a couple of years ago 鈥 it鈥檚 more than job security.
鈥淥ur grandfather went to college but couldn鈥檛 afford to finish, so he started his own business,鈥 Blake said. 鈥淗e was able to better the community, and that鈥檚 what we want to do.鈥
Build a better world through engineering. !