Scholarship Recipients Set Sights on Industry Careers
NPCA recently awarded 10 undergraduate students with an NPCA Foundation Scholarship to help them reach their educational goals and begin building a future in the precast concrete industry. In this issue, NPCA features three more of the student recipients. Learn more about their introduction to precast, educational goals and interests.
Carter Daley
Green, Ohio | Kent State University
Carter Daley is a sophomore at Kent State University, majoring in construction management and considering pursuing a business minor. Daley has always been interested in construction. His friend’s dad owns a construction company in Ohio, which uses a considerable amount of precast concrete to battle against rerosion along riverbanks, lakeshores and breakwaters and to assist in building dams. Working at the company has shown Daley how precast can be utilized in construction and how efficient it can be, which ultimately piqued his interest in the industry.
As a sophomore, Daley is focused on getting good grades and being on the dean’s list. At Kent, he has the opportunity to attend career fairs with a variety of companies to set him up for his post-graduate career. Aside from these fairs, Daley wants to continue in, and join more, extracurricular activities. Kent State offers construction clubs to further education into that field, and Daley wants to use those opportunities to build his resume for his future employment.
When Daley graduates, he wants to either continue working at the construction company where he currently works because he enjoys working around rivers or work with a large industrial construction company as a project manager. He wants to further develop and push the boundaries of what can be done with precast, such as making it stronger and more affordable as well as creating a more efficient timeline in the process.
Outside of precast, school and work, Daley enjoys spending his free time hanging out with friends, working on four wheelers and cars, welding and being outside.
Emilia Delaney
Crescent City, Fla. | Florida State University
Emilia Delaney has always been interested in civil engineering and through that discovered precast concrete. Delaney is a first-year student at Florida State University with a dual major in civil and environmental engineering and STEM entrepreneurship. Before she declared her major, she researched specializations within civil engineering and structural engineering piqued her interest. As she researched more about what civil and structural engineers do and the materials they work with precast concrete, and how important it is in the world of civil engineering, kept coming up.
During high school, Delaney became interested in civil engineering through an environmental management class — learning about ways to mitigate environmental damage. This class raised her awareness of how the surrounding environment can be changed using engineering principles. She then branched out, ultimately finding her way to precast concrete. Delaney also formed an interest in STEM entrepreneurship because she would like to get her professional engineering license and eventually own her own engineering firm — specializing in structural engineering.
Some of Delaney’s educational goals include staying in the honors college, which gives her the opportunity to take more specialized college courses. She also wants to get involved in engineering by joining an engineering honors society as well as attend events like Concrete Canoe. Delane will stay involved in the precast industry through summer internships, which will help expand her horizons and help her nail down exactly what it is she wants to do in the precast industry.
Outside of school, Delaney is into sports and likes working out, including running and lifting weights. She also enjoys being outdoors and going to the beach as well as drawing and painting.
Maxwell Ehlers
Cincinnati, Ohio | Vanderbilt University
For Maxwell Ehlers, precast runs in the family. Ehlers, a freshman at Vanderbilt University, became interested in precast concrete through his dad, who started a precast concrete company. Ehlers started in precast doing small jobs for his father’s company, eventually transitioning to more significant work and earning his American Concrete Institution (ACI) certification. Ehlers enjoys the process of precast and how it can be manipulated, for example with admixtures or how much air is added, to make different structures. He finds it fascinating how different concrete is made.
Ehlers is studying mechanical engineering with a minor in Spanish and economics. One of his big educational goals is to study abroad during his time in college. He also wants to maintain a good GPA while still taking classes that interest him. Ehlers is interested in a broad range of topics and loves learning new things.
Ehlers is still thinking about his plans after college but could see himself attending law school. Going straight into the precast world is another possibility. In terms of the precast concrete industry, Ehlers would love to become more involved in a precast company and then maybe ultimately build his own, taking after his father.
In his free time, Ehlers likes being outside. He is an Eagle Scout and loves snow skiing — “his favorite thing to do ever.” He also enjoys working hands-on and building stuff. He played soccer and tennis in high school.