Profiles on Excellence - Students Get Extreme!
 Jerry DeYoung, Construction Management ’76), along with his family and the team at De Young Properties was chosen as the builder for Fresno’s first Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
In the spirit of neighbor helping neighbor, the crew of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition partnered with De Young Properties to bring together the Central Valley community to help a deserving family. The Riojas family of Fresno was selected for the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition that took place in February 2009. Mary Ann Riojas is a single mom, a spokesperson for Easter Seals, and a hero in our community. Born without legs and only one fully developed arm, Mary Ann isn't a stranger to adversity. Mary Ann was placed in foster care at an early age and grew up in poverty in an unstable household. After getting married and having four children, she struggled financially and found herself on welfare. Despite her living conditions and disability, she was determined to lead an independent and active life while providing love and support to her four children. De Young Properties and our local community stepped up to be her hero, helping to build her and her family the home that they deserve.
Although De Young Properties has built over 7,000 homes in the Central Valley, this “Extreme” build was unique in two ways; the build must be completed in 7 days and all products and all labor had to be donated. One of the premier groups of the “Extreme Team” was the Construction Management (CM) Program. In the Lyles College of Engineering Dr. Louis Gylser (Interim Coordinator of the CM Program) and a team of talented CM students (Matt Kelsey, Fabian Molina, Chris Oliver, Mark Thomas and Graham Walberg) endured the cold weather, late night shifts and “extreme” conditions holding down positions as construction managers on this extraordinary project. Even Michael Jenkins, Dean of the College, and Dana Lucka, Director of Development, got on board with a shift or two on the project. It was truly a community effort and the Lyles College of Engineering is proud to have been part of such a wonderful project!
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