McCarthy Building Companies Inc. and former President and Chief Operating
Officer Michael Hurst are helping Missouri University of Science and Technology
build a better future for students studying civil engineering.

Hurst, who received his undergraduate degree from Missouri S&T in civil
engineering in 1974, and his wife, Barbara, have given $750,000 to the
university to endow a professorship in construction management. McCarthy
Building Companies has contributed an additional $250,000 to the endowment.

“We believe that this endowment will support the department in attracting an
outstanding construction professional who will help the civil engineering
department recruit excellent students from Missouri and beyond to go into the
construction field,” Hurst says. “Missouri S&T was key, not only in giving
me an education, but also in giving me the chance to experience leadership
opportunities. That was a key part of my success in my career, and I certainly
want to give students the best education available while at Missouri
S&T.”

Hurst retired from McCarthy in 2007 after working with the company for more
than 33 years. In fact, he was hired 34 years ago during the company’s first
official recruiting effort at Missouri S&T. Since then, Hurst has remained
a strong supporter of the university, contributing to the civil engineering
capital campaign and becoming a member of the Order of the Golden
Shillelagh.

McCarthy Building Companies also has continued its partnership with the
university. The construction firm currently recruits Missouri S&T students
for its intensive intern program and employs about 30 alumni. McCarthy has
participated in the university’s civil engineering capital campaign, and
Missouri S&T graduate and McCarthy’s corporate vice president of safety,
Gary Amsinger, serves on the university’s Career Opportunities Center Advisory
Board.

“We have a 30-plus year relationship with Missouri S&T, and the
university has provided us with a lot of great employees who have matriculated
up through the company,” says McCarthy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Michael D. Bolen. “The culture at Missouri S&T fits with the culture at
McCarthy. The students develop a great work ethic and do whatever it takes to
succeed.”

Bolen says McCarthy Building Companies hopes to continue to maintain the
positive relationship it has enjoyed with Missouri S&T in the past.

“This is really a partnership between McCarthy and Mike and Barbara (Hurst)
to help facilitate what we think will continue to be a valuable, long-term
relationship with Missouri S&T,” Hurst says. “If we can help produce better
engineers, that’s going to be better for McCarthy in the future.”

Dr. Richard Stephenson, professor of civil engineering and assistant chair
for graduate studies in civil, environmental and architectural engineering at
Missouri S&T, says the endowment from the Hursts and McCarthy will help to
strengthen educational opportunities in the department.

“About 40 percent of our graduating seniors say they plan to pursue careers
in the construction industry, so the importance of construction engineering
education to our program is very high,” says Stephenson. “This endowment will
allow us to strengthen that program, and provide additional faculty and
opportunities for students in that area.”

Founded as a family business in 1864, McCarthy is one of the oldest
privately held construction firms in the nation. The firm is 100 percent
employee owned and provides construction management, design/build and general
contracting services nationwide.