Outstanding Contributions By An Individual

DEADLINE: Construction Education Friend Award submissions are due by September 16, 2024. 

If you have questions about the CEF Award, contact Jaye Van Wormer at VanWormerJ@agc-ca.org.

Apply Now: Construction Education Friend Award Application

Download:  Construction Education Friend Award Info Packet

Construction Education Friend Award Eligibility

Through the Construction Education Friend Award Program, the AGC Construction Education Foundation (CEF) honors individuals for their outstanding contributions to construction education and workforce development efforts. To be eligible for a Friend Award, an individual must:

• Have made an outstanding contribution to the construction education and/or workforce development effort.
• Be nominated by one the following: an AGC of California member company, a District Board of Directors, a Division Board of Directors, a State Standing Committee/Council, or the Executive Committee.

CEF Award Information Packet

Lamar Hanger
Instructor, Construction Trades CTE Program Fontana High School

Lamar Hanger, a former union carpenter for 32 years, now instructs the Construction Trades Career Technical Education program at Fontana High School. During his time as a carpenter, Lamar worked on several landmark projects, most notably performing freeform lathing for various attractions at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Transitioning to teaching, he spent eight years educating apprentices for the Southwest Carpenters Training Fund, where he was known for his dedication and one-on-one mentoring. Retirement led him to a community-serving role as a pre-apprenticeship instructor. Embracing the challenge, he converted an old woodshop into a modern construction training lab with donations from contractor contacts like Swinerton and McCarthy Building Companies. From an initial 70 students, his program has grown to over 200 enrollees, with more on a waiting list.

Lamar’s teaching style mimics a jobsite, assigning roles to each student, and fostering both trade skills and leadership. His students have seen success, winning Rookies of the Year at the 2021 Construction Industry Education Foundation Design Build Competition, with some becoming apprentice carpenters post-graduation.

Always striving to expose students to various construction career paths, Lamar partners with AGC of California’s Build California, inviting contractors for classroom presentations, facility tours, or social media interaction.

Past Construction Education Friend Award Winners

• 2023 – Emiliano Sanchez, Oakland Unified School District
• 2021 – Miquel “Mick” Penn, Swinerton
• 2020 – John E. Harriel, Morrow Meadows
• 2019 – Tammy Castillo, Operating Engineers Local 3
• 2018 – Gary Rafferty, Swinerton Builders
• 2017 – Paul Weber, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• 2016 – Alan Bond, California State University Chico
• 2015 – Francois Jacobs, California Baptist University
• 2014 –  Holly Cindell, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.
• 2013 –  Robert Bourdet, W. Bradley Electric, Inc.
• 2012 –  Frank Schipper, Frank Schipper Construction Co.
• 2011 –  William M. Lyles, W.M. Lyles Co.
• 2010 –  Jeff Wright, Lincoln High School and Jack Filanc, J.R. Filanc Construction Company
• 2009 –  Jeff Merker, Sheldon High School
• 2008 –  Don Gordon, Tradart Foundation