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CORVALLIS - Harold D. "Hal" Pritchett, a professor emeritus of construction engineering management at Oregon State University, has received a Golden Beaver Award - one of the highest honors in the field of heavy engineering construction.

The award recognizes Pritchett's work over four decades to help found and develop the Construction Engineering Management Program in OSU's College of Engineering. This program, now recognized as one of the premier educational initiatives of its type in the nation, has 300 students enrolled and annually graduates 50 students with bachelor's degrees.

Nearly 1,200 graduates through the years have routinely had a 100 percent success rate in gaining employment.

Pritchett is only the third educator ever to be recognized with a Golden Beaver Award in the 48-year history of this professional organization of construction engineers.

"One of Hal's strengths has been his balanced approach to teaching, incorporating classroom and laboratory instruction in engineering and business, local and regional field trips to construction sites, industry-driven research and student involvement in industry affairs," officials said in recognizing the OSU engineer.

Under Pritchett's guidance, OSU students each year have taken an annual "senior field trip" to the San Francisco Bay area, where Pritchett used his contacts in the construction industry to provide students with an in-depth look at more than one dozen different projects in various degrees of construction.

Pritchett received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and master's degree in hydraulic engineering from OSU, and a degree of engineer in economic planning from Stanford University. He is still active in a number of capacities with the OSU College of Engineering, athletics, alumni events, the College of Engineering Advisory Board, OSU Alumni Board, and director of development for the OSU Construction Education Foundation.