Class of 2024: Alex Sherbak ends undergraduate education in building construction on the perfect note

Name: Alex Sherbak

College: College of Engineering

Major/minor: Building Construction

Hometown: Stratham, New Hampshire

Plans after graduation: Working with Hensel Phelps, a construction firm, in Northern Virginia

Favorite Hokie memory: Singing "Don’t Stop Me Now" with his acapella group Naturally Sharp

Hands-on experience is near and dear to the mission of the Myers-Lawson School of Construction. For building construction’s Alex Sherbak, it’s the reason he’s graduating from the program. Sherbak began his college career in 2020's isolation, but it pushed him to go outside of his comfort zone. As he prepares to walk across the stage to receive his orange hardhat, he has a wide array of experience in his toolbelt — an acapella singer, BuildLAB manager, construction competition team manager, and undergraduate teaching assistant. 

“Get involved,” Sherbak said. “It doesn’t matter what you do, just put yourself out there. There are so many opportunities within the school of construction that more people should take advantage of.”

Building skills in the lab

Sherbak honed his woodworking skills in the BuildLAB, a Bishop-Favrao Hall-based space with computer-controlled machines where students learn how to work with composite-based materials. When he wasn’t learning a new craft, he also acted as a teacher and mentor to other students who used the facility, serving as a junior manager. 

“His work ethic has continued to shine throughout his time at Virginia Tech," said Shelton Norwood, BuildLAB manager and building construction advisor. “He approaches his leadership duties with dedication and detailed attention. He has never backed down from offering assistance on lab projects and has been an excellent mentor to other lab employees.”

Showcasing skills nationwide

Sherbak’s leadership stretched beyond the lab and into other extracurricular activities. Serving as the co-captain of the Associated Schools of Construction concrete team, he and co-captains Abby Sneska and Ethan Kane, led a team of six students to four states over the course of two years: Reno, NV; Chicago, IL; Peachtree, GA; and Greenville, SC.

Each team and competition in the Associated Schools of Construction is unique in its own right, providing students with the experience of bidding for a real-life project. Working side by side with industry partners, Sherbak and the team learned the ins and outs of what it takes to be successful in the workforce. With their industry insight and hands-on learning, the group applied their skills to real-life projects, such as a multi-family mid-rise and 42-story high-rise both in Charlotte, NC, and a Napa Auto Parts distribution center in Indiana, racking up several wins along the way.

Implementing skills in the field

In between academic years, Sherbak took his classroom knowledge into the field. With each summer came a new internship and city to explore. His first internship with Commodore Builders in Boston, MA laid the foundation for his construction career and focused on safety and permitting. The next, sent him to Maryland as a field engineer, where he learned about working for a general contractor with Forrester Construction. For his final summer in 2024, he went back to his hometown in Stratham, NH, working with Consigli Construction on a historical renovation.

Utilizing his experiences across companies, cities, and roles, Sherbak will begin his career in Northern Virginia working as a project engineer for Hensel Phelps, a company he connected with at the Myers-Lawson School of Construction's biannual career fair. But before he begins, he’s planning one last adventure – a backpacking trip across Europe.