TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Christian Hooks, a senior majoring in civil engineering with a minor in structural engineering, was selected as the summer 2024 Outstanding Co-op Student by the Engineering Career Development Center. Hooks completed his third and final rotation with Winter Construction Company in Chamblee, Georgia, under the leadership of a senior project manager.
“This award is incredibly meaningful to me, representing the hard work and dedication I have invested in my co-op experience, along with the valuable lessons I have learned along the way,” Hooks said. “I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with such an exceptional company, and I could not have achieved this without the support of my family, friends and project teams.”
This summer, Hooks worked on the Downtown Moxy Hotel project in Atlanta, Georgia — a $36-million, 10-story, 183-room hotel across from Centennial Olympic Park. He began the summer working on pre-construction tasks such as reviewing construction drawings, generating requests for information, assisting with City of Atlanta processes and developing a project submittal log. He also contributed to the implementation of a company-wide Procore template quality assurance/quality control tool called Water Management Action Plans. During the construction phase, which started in late June, Hooks took on the role of site foreman during mobilization, abatement, demolition and grading activities.
Hooks has accepted a full-time offer to start in January with Winter Construction.
Hooks expressed his appreciation for the co-op program, stating that his experience during his rotations with Winter Construction helped him feel more prepared to join the workforce and assured in his career decisions.
“Joining the co-op program has truly been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Before I began, I was uncertain about my career path, but now I wake up each day excited to go to work, confident in my love for what I do. My experience at Winter Construction has not only solidified my passion for this field, but also my desire to grow with the company, reflecting the exceptional learning environment and supportive culture that Winter fosters,” Hooks said.
To learn more about the College’s co-op program, visit https://coop.sa.ua.edu/cooperative-education/.