By NPCA Staff
In 2016, The NPCA Foundation awarded eleven scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies related to civil engineering, architecture and construction-related curricula. The scholarship provides financial aid and increases the student’s awareness of the many benefits precast concrete products can provide the specifying community. The 2016 scholarship recipients are listed below.
Undergraduate Students
Aiden Blake
School: University of Tennessee
Major: Architecture
Sponsor: Michael Kusch, Sherman-
Dixie Concrete (Forterra Pipe & Precast)
Caitlin Brady
School: Drexel University
Major: Architecture
Sponsor: Brent Dezember, StructureCast
Leland Brandon
School: Louisiana Tech University
Major: Engineering
Sponsor: Lisa Roache, Gainey’s Concrete Products
Jase Galt
School: Montana Tech of the University of Montana
Major: Construction Engineering
Sponsor: Sam Lines, Concrete Sealants Inc.
Sean Hahn
School: Illinois Institute of Technology
Major: Civil Engineering
Sponsor: Kevin Johnson, Welch Brothers
Kearney Holst
School: Flathead Valley Community College
Major: Engineering
Sponsor: Tom Anderson, Glacier Precast
Cole Pilgrim
School: Texas State University
Major: Concrete Industry Management
Sponsor: Dirk Franz, Tricon Precast
Bradley Ruga
School: Rowan University
Major: Civil Engineering
Sponsor: Matthew Hicks, Northeast Precast
Abigael Weller
School: Drury University
Major: Architecture
Sponsor: Aaron Ausen, Dalmaray Concrete Products
Graduate Student – Daneen S. Barbour Scholarship
Steven Gyarmaty
School: Illinois Institute of Technology
Major: Structural Engineering
Sponsor: Mark Wieser, Wieser Concrete Products
ASCE Concrete Canoe National Competition
As part of its eff orts to have a wider impact on students enrolled in architecture, civil engineering and construction-related programs at North American universities, NPCAF served as a silver sponsor in this year’s American Society of Civil Engineers Concrete Canoe National Competition. The event, held June 9-11 at the University of Texas at Tyler, featured 21 schools vying to be crowned the winner of “America’s Cup of Civil Engineering.” In the end, École de Technologie Supérieure of Montréal, Que., took home the first place prize, which included a $5,000 scholarship, a trophy and, of course, bragging rights.
About 400 students from the competing schools spent thousands of hours researching, designing, constructing and racing their concrete canoes. The results of their eff orts were then judged according to the quality of their design papers, visual displays, oral presentations and more.
École de Technologie Supérieure of Montréal, Que., won first place at the ASCE Concrete Canoe National Competition.
According to Marti Harrell, executive director of NPCAF, the foundation’s involvement in the event will lead to students becoming more aware of the precast concrete industry.
“What we’re hoping to do is use the concrete canoe national competition as a springboard for becoming better connected with the schools,” she said. “It’s a long-term vision that we think will have profound effects moving forward.”
Claude Goguen, P.E., LEED AP, director of sustainability and technical education, served as a judge at the event. He was impressed by the quality of work that all students put into their entries.
“The presentations, the canoes, the quality of the canoes and even the training they put into the paddling – the students doing all of that plus going to school renewed my faith in the future of the engineering industry,” he said.
The NPCAF Board of Directors voted in June to continue sponsoring the national competition. The board also agreed to reach out to participating schools in the future to provide grants for funding canoe construction. According to Harrell, this will further instill precast as a premier building material with students.
“It’s all about strengthening that understanding and awareness of precast concrete, getting us into schools and getting the students more familiar with us,” she said.
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