Scholarships
Supporting the Future of Concrete
Many organizations in the concrete industry offer scholarships for students interested in pursuing a Concrete Industry Management degree. Scholarships are available though the individual CIM Programs. Please visit their websites for more information (links below).
California State University – Chico
Middle Tennessee State University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
The list below includes some of the scholarships available through national CIM supporters. For more information regarding a particular scholarship, please request information from the contact listed under the specific scholarship.
If your organization offers a scholarship and you wish to list it here, please contact us.
National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA) Foundation Scholarship
General Information: The NPCA Foundation is sponsoring scholarships for deserving students pursuing careers related to the precast concrete industry. Precast concrete-related careers include professional positions in manufacturing facilities, architectural firms, the specifying community, engineering firms and the general construction industry. Eligible students may receive up to $20,000 in scholarships!
Applications are open to anyone who will be enrolled in a certificate program or an undergraduate program at an academic institution for the next academic year following the application deadline. The applicant’s course of study should be in an academic field related to the building, construction or precast concrete industry Applicants must be enrolled in a certificate program or a two- or four-year degree program. The academic institution may be either a four-year college, a community college or a vocational school with a recognized related course of study.
The Bob Weatherton Scholarship
General Information: The 20th century saw concrete construction go beyond being an industry, to become also a community. Our sense of community is evident at events such as the annual World of Concrete (WOC). We owe our strength and unity to a few special leaders and one of those leaders was Bob Weatherton.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1932 and trained as an engineer at the University of Pittsburgh, Bob developed concrete pumping technologies and worked as a manager for various concrete pump companies. By 1975, there was interest in developing an exhibition specific to the concrete industry. As a representative of the American Concrete Pumping Association—which he had helped found—Bob played a large role in developing and co-sponsoring the first World of Concrete.
Bob received several industry and association awards and was named one of the “most influential people” in the industry by Concrete Construction magazine in 2014. World of Concrete subsequently established the Bob Weatherton Award, which provides CIM students with recognition and scholarship money.
Criteria for receiving the award include demonstrated industry contributions in categories such as safety, productivity and industry improvement. Student submissions–papers and presentations–are judged by a panel of industry professionals. The scholarship is presented during the week at World of Concrete.
Past award winners include:
Kellie Christian, Middle Tennessee State University – 2024
Yanetli Navarro-Hernandez, California State University – Chico – 2023
Aubrey Miller, California State University – Chico – 2022
Kelly O’Brien, New Jersey Institute of Technology – 2020
Paige Silva, California State University – Chico – 2019
Damien Bonis, California State University – Chico – 2018
Jerhard Evangelista, New Jersey Institute of Technology – 2016
Jayme Hill, California State University – Chico and Alex Burkhart, Texas State University – 2015
The AOE Fellowship
General Information: In 2020, AOE – a fully-owned subsidiary of ACI – launched a fellowship specifically for members of the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program. AOE is a long-time supporter of CIM, having helped with the program’s marketing efforts for more than a decade. The AOE award is available to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a degree as part of the CIM program. First preference will be given to students interested in the sales/marketing, association management, or business side of the concrete industry. An internship with AOE is optional.
The fellowship was created in memory of Wendy Ward, a member of the AOE team for more than 10 years. Wendy was a great advocate for the concrete industry and passed away at the early age of 32 from breast cancer. She was known throughout the industry as a leading expert in helping organizations with their marketing and sales efforts, as well as broadening career opportunities in the concrete industry.
Fellowship details:
Fellowships are offered to high-potential graduate and undergraduate students who have full time status in concrete related degree programs. Fellowship recipients are eligible to apply and compete
for these awards on a year-to-year basis, but must reapply each year, so long as they are still eligible. All fellowship awardees are required to submit a written report near the end of their fellowship
award period that describes the value of the fellowship to their development and preparation for their chosen career after graduation. Fellowship recipients will receive the following:
- $10,000 – $15,000 USD educational stipend for tuition, residence, books, and materials
- Appropriate recognition in Concrete International magazine and on the Foundation website
- Paid travel expenses and attendance fees to two ACI conventions (fellowship finalists must attend the Spring ACI Convention to be interviewed where they have the option of being assigned a Convention Guide)
- Assistance in finding an industry mentor
Application deadline is November 1, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET. Visit acifoundation.org to learn more and to apply.
CarbonCure Sustainability in Concrete Scholarship
CarbonCure is on a mission to make concrete a climate solution and annually reduce and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 500 million metric tons. As part of that mission, we are looking to support the next generation of leaders in sustainability within the concrete industry and are excited to offer the CarbonCure Sustainability in Concrete Scholarship in partnership with our producer partners from around the world.
The CarbonCure Sustainability in Concrete Scholarship is offered to any undergraduate freshman, sophomore or transfer student enrolled full-time in a CIM academic institution for the year beginning in September 2023 and who has a demonstrated interest in promoting sustainability within the concrete industry.
There will be one $2,000 scholarship awarded at EACH CIM institution.
Apply today by submitting your application at links.carboncure.com/scholarship.
Applications will be open until October 15, 2023.
The Besser & Mel Marshall Scholarships presented by the American Concrete Pipe Association Foundation
The Besser & Mel Marshall Scholarships are up to three $3,500 college scholarships that are awarded to students whose course of study is related to concrete pipe production, application/installation or research. Any and all students who attend (or plan to attend) a technical program, community college, or university (undergraduate or graduate program) are encouraged to apply. The Besser & Mel Marshall Scholarship programs are intended to help attract and/or retain students who will make a positive impact on the concrete pipe industry.
Apply Today
Why was the scholarship established?
In 2016 the scholarship was established in recognition of the American Concrete Pipe Association’s annual National Concrete Pipe Week. The employee-owners of Besser Company established the scholarship, with the ACPA Foundation, to invest in talented and energetic students, that have an interest in joining our industry and moving it forward.
The Besser Scholarship is a tribute to Jesse Besser, Jon Dannenberg, Joe Pelchat and countless others who embraced training and education as pillars of Besser Company. Through their foresight, ingenuity, dedication and leadership Besser Company earned an industry-wide reputation for providing impactful training during Pipe Schools held in Sioux City, Iowa, onsite courses in producers’ facilities and as part of ACPA’s annual Pipe School. Besser staff train and educate hundreds of industry members annually about the production of concrete pipe, box culverts and all shapes of dry cast and wet cast products, mix designs, machine operation and maintenance and curing.
The Mel Marshall Scholarship was established in 2023 as a tribute to the legacy of the industry icon Mel Marshall. The primary objective is to honor Mel Marshall unwavering commitment to teaching and advancing knowledge within the concrete pipe industry. By creating this scholarship, ACPAs Foundation aims to ensure the continuation of Mel’s impact, both personally and professionally, on the ongoing growth and development of the concrete pipe industry. Read more about Mel Marshall here.
How can a student apply?
Application forms for the 2025 scholarship can be accessed on the ACPA website here: https://www.concretepipe.org/scholarship
Applications are due by November 17th, 2024 by 11:59 pm CT.
The committee will review applications and award the scholarship at the 2025 ACPA Pipe School being held February 10-13, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio.