Uncas Elementary School in Norwich, CT, is fortunate to have David Semnoski on site this summer as a Building Group Intern. A rising senior at the University of Rhode Island, David is pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Math. Beyond the classroom, he is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), where he plays a key role in the university’s Concrete Canoe team, applying engineering principles in a hands-on and highly competitive environment. His passion for construction, problem-solving, and teamwork has made him a valuable addition to the Uncas Elementary School project team.
David consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and proactive approach to his responsibilities. He arrives at the job site early each day, reviews emails, and promptly begins his daily tasks. A significant part of his role involves supporting Dan with pre-construction activities, including contract awards, where he enters project data into Excel, documents awarded projects, and records key contract terms. In addition, David reviews and redlines RFIs, prepares and manages submittals, and actively participates in weekly meetings with the project team, trades, and Owners and Architects. He has also learned how to develop a Trade Allowance Workbook, which helps prepare both Norwich school project teams for builder meetings.
When working in the field, David conducts measurements of various project elements to verify that actual site conditions align with project drawings and specifications. His attention to detail, organizational skills, and willingness to support both office and field operations make him a valuable member of the team.
As this is David’s first internship, he has experienced significant growth in both his technical and professional skills. He has become increasingly proficient with software platforms such as Bluebeam and Procore, while also gaining confidence in his day-to-day responsibilities. David credits Superintendent Tom Goizueta for much of this development, noting that Tom has helped him feel comfortable in the field and more confident in his work. As David shared, “Working with Tom is beyond any expectation I could have set. He gets everyone to have a good time and enjoy coming to work.” He has also been impressed by how openly his colleagues Matt Barber and Dan Hetzler have been kindly sharing their experiences and career paths, which has motivated him to work hard, ask questions, and absorb as much knowledge and experience as possible before returning to school.
Overcoming initial challenges has been an important part of David’s growth throughout his internship. Early on, he found reading construction drawings intimidating and was unsure where to begin. However, after a few weeks of experience, he developed a more effective approach. As David explains, “It’s like building a database in your brain. Just find a spot and go from there.” This mindset helped him adapt to the fast-paced construction environment and strengthen his understanding of project documentation. Today, reading drawings has become second nature, and he continues to refine his technical and professional skills. Looking ahead, David hopes to further expand his construction management knowledge while continuing to grow both personally and professionally.
To all future interns, David encourages students to “speak up.” Ask questions, ask for more work, and ask for help when you need it. “Doing new things can be intimidating,” he notes. “But you will be glad you advocated for yourself. There is so much to learn; you never know what you might be missing if you do not ask.”
David has endless stories to share. Just a few weeks ago, he had the opportunity to work out with Arnold Swartzenhager in Santa Monica, California. If you see him around the site, make sure to ask him about the experience, or have him share his reportedly world-famous sweet potato fry recipe.
