Seminole State construction students rank in Top 10 at national competition

Monday, April 28, 2025
Written by: Kimberly Allen

In just their second year of competition,  Seminole State College of Florida construction program students Arlene Martinez, Ana Palm De Oliveira, and Jermaine "JJ" Jones and Sean Griffin finished in the top 10 among 35 institutions competing in the 2025 Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Construction Management Competition. 

Thanks to Seminole State's strong industry connections, the team worked with industry professionals, attending 15 workshops over eight weeks to prepare for the competition. That hard work paid off, as the team not only finished in the top 10 but also achieved a national third place ranking in the Safety and Quality Control categories. 

The team, which consists of a Walt Disney Imagineering intern (Griffin), a U.S. Army veteran (Jones), a senior project coordinator (Palm De Oliveira) and a teacher turned construction and development company owner (Martinez), was recognized with the "We Change Lives" award at Seminole State's April Board of Trustees meeting for their success and dedication to their studies. All four students work full-time in addition to pursuing bachelor's and associate degrees in construction at Seminole State. 

Arlene Martinez speaks to the audience at the April Board of Trustees meeting at Seminole State College
After earning her bachelor's degree at Seminole
State, Arlene Martinez, who leads the College's
ABC Student Chapter, plans to pursue a master's
degree in construction this fall. 
After starting her company with her husband, Martinez, who served as the team leader, says she wanted to learn more about the industry. She chose Seminole State for its affordability, convenience and bachelor's degree in construction...all things that met her needs and fit her busy schedule as a business owner, wife and mom of three. Martinez plans to pursue a master's degree in construction starting this fall, turning over leadership of Seminole State's ABC Student Chapter to Palm De Oliveira and Jones. After the team's success this year, Martinez is already looking forward to next year's competition. "I expect more wins in the future," she said.  

And she's not the only one feeling positive about the future and what they accomplished this year. "I feel more confident," said Palm de Oliveira, who is pursuing a bachelor's degree in construction. "The competition validated what I already knew."  

Seminole State's construction program is part of the College's Wharton Smith Center for Construction, which offers a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of Central Florida's construction industry, helping students achieve professional and financial success in this high-earning, high-demand field.

About the Wharton-Smith Center for Construction

The Wharton-Smith Center for Construction, based at Seminole State College’s Heathrow Campus, offers bachelor's, associate, certificate and apprenticeship programs in construction and related fields. These programs are grounded in academic coursework, site visits and practical application of industry principles, preparing students for leadership roles in the construction industry. For more information, please visit the construction website.

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