Hard work, teamwork and Bear pride carried Missouri State University’s construction management students to a trivia victory at the 2025 MCAA GreatFutures Forum.

Held from Oct. 9-11 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the event focused on learning, networking and industry growth.

The MCAA (Mechanical Contractors Association of America) hosts the forum each year. It brings together students from nearly 50 student chapters across North America and MCAA member companies for student-focused sessions, peer engagement and networking.

The students also get to participate in a fast-paced team trivia challenge featuring 50 questions about mechanical systems, sustainability and the MCAA industry. Their goal was to answer accurately and do it faster than any other team.

Deserving champions

Competing against dozens of teams, the Bears team came out on top. It included:

• Will Blaine
• Mya Duke
• Jessica Greenland
• Stephen Haight

The team earned $1,000 in prize money for the win and secured a $500 donation to the charity of its choice. Members gave it to the ACE Mentor Program, which supports high school students interested in architecture, construction and engineering.

“We wanted to give back to a program that helps future builders find their path,” said Dustin Steiro, clinical assistant professor in the School of Construction Design and Project Management.

According to senior Greenland, she did not picture herself on stage holding a championship title.

“I said yes to joining the competition before I even knew what I was signing up for,” she said. “Now, I can’t imagine my college experience without it.”

Turning teamwork into victory

Guided by Steiro, the team prepared strategically.

“We divided up the questions, trusted each other’s strengths and worked together under pressure,” Greenland said.

That paid off. The team not only won the challenge but also outscored the alumni competitors.

Beyond the win: lessons that last

The win was more than a résumé highlight. It proved that hard work, mentorship and real-world learning could result in something far greater than a trophy.

“Our students volunteer for these types of competitions; they don’t get class credit,” Steiro said. “They do it because they’re driven to learn. They take the concepts from across our construction management curriculum – mechanical systems, cost estimation, scheduling, contracts, safety, project administration and more – and apply them in the real world. That’s when education becomes transformation.”

While winning the trophy was exciting for Greenland, her favorite moment at the forum came from a new experience – curling at the Utah Olympic Oval.

“I didn’t even know what curling was,” she said. “But learning something completely new was what this trip was all about: curiosity, teamwork and trying things you’ve never done before.”

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