Bradley University students shine in the 2025 Roofing Alliance Student Competition

By Heidi J. Ellsworth. 

Students share the importance of culture in the next generation of roofing. 

The energy was electric at the 2025 International Roofing Expo (IRE) as the Bradley University team was interviewed and shared their story about the Roofing Alliance Construction Management Student Competition. Although the team did not place this year, they have a long history of success in the competition. The team reflected on the challenges, growth and excitement they experienced through this prestigious event.  

Now in its eleventh year, the Roofing Alliance’s Annual Construction Management Student Competition continues to build momentum and inspire future industry professionals. Held in conjunction with the IRE, the 2025 competition took place in San Antonio, Texas, and introduced students to roofing as a dynamic and rewarding career path. It also provided valuable networking opportunities with peers, faculty and Roofing Alliance members.  

This year’s competition project, provided by Beldon Roofing Company of San Antonio, challenged teams to develop a comprehensive bid proposal for the reroofing of the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Antonio Airport Hotel. Working closely with contractor mentors, students prepared detailed bid packages that demonstrated project management, estimating and safety skills. Finalists were invited to the IRE to present their proposals live to a panel of industry judges. They also attended the Roofing Alliance’s Welcome Reception, toured the project site and participated in NRCA’s Industry Awards Ceremony where winning teams were recognized on stage. 

Led by team captain Uriel de la Torre, the Bradley University group included Francesco Fricano, Ethan Sountris, Erik Avila and Matthew Leazer. Each student brought a unique academic background with majors spanning construction management, civil engineering and business management. Together they embraced the opportunity to dive deep into a sector not heavily covered in their coursework: roofing. 

Uriel noted that while roofing was familiar from a distance, the competition pushed them into a much deeper understanding of the layers, materials and technical aspects involved. "This competition really makes you dive into the specs and understand what the purpose for each roofing layer is," he shared. 

Several team members learned about the competition from previous participants. But this year, it was Uriel who had competed the year before and acted as a mentor and advocate for the experience. The lure of traveling for the competition was certainly a bonus but it quickly became clear to the Bradley students that the event offered much more, a chance to sharpen skills, deepen knowledge and expand career horizons. 

When asked about their favorite parts of the experience, the team shared similar sentiments. Ethan compared it to a mini senior project that expanded their academic scope. Erik and others emphasized how much they learned, especially given they had little prior exposure to roofing. "I knew absolutely nothing about the roofing industry prior to this, so being able to broaden my horizons was definitely worth it," Erik said. 

The hands-on aspect of the project and the ability to see real-world applications made the experience even more rewarding. Francesco described the preparation and final presentation as demanding but highly fulfilling. "We went out there, gave it our best shot and I think we killed it," he said with a grin. 

For Uriel, stepping outside of his comfort zone during the presentation was a personal highlight. Despite nerves about public speaking, he embraced the challenge and found pride in presenting in front of industry judges. 

Looking ahead to their professional futures, the students were clear about what they are looking for in potential employers. Uriel emphasized the importance of company culture, saying, "We all look for that culture. We want a family oriented company. Obviously good money too but feeling that culture at these events is really nice." His sentiment resonated with the entire team and highlighted a key message for companies hoping to recruit emerging talent. 

Although they did not walk away with a trophy, the Bradley University team had already won something far more important — real-world knowledge, industry connections and the confidence to pursue careers in roofing and construction with passion and skill. 

For more information about the Roofing Alliance and the Construction Management Student Competition, visit www.roofingalliance.net. 

View all the Roofing Alliance Student Competition videos here.