ACI Foundation Scholarships: Requirements and Opportunities

The ACI Foundation aims to advance the concrete industry by supporting research and education. A key aspect of this mission is providing scholarships and fellowships to promising students in concrete-related fields. These awards help attract and develop future professionals who will contribute to the industry's continued innovation and success. The ACI Foundation is now accepting applications from graduate and undergraduate students. The full award cycle covers the fall semester through the spring semester. Additional application details are available at acifoundation.org/scholarships.

General Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for ACI Foundation scholarships and fellowships, applicants must meet specific criteria related to their academic status, field of study, and location. The ACI Foundation offers scholarships for eligible graduate students whose studies relate to concrete.

Academic Standing

The ACI Foundation offers fellowships to both undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a concrete-related degree at an accredited institution in the US, Canada, or Mexico.

Graduate Students: To be eligible for a graduate scholarship, students must be full-time students in a master's or PhD program during the entire award cycle. Applicants must not have exceeded their second year of a master's program or fourth year of a PhD program.
Undergraduate Students: To be eligible for an undergraduate scholarship, the applicant must be a full-time undergraduate at the time of applying for and during the entire award cycle.

Field of Study

Applicants must be students in a concrete-related degree program such as civil engineering, structuring engineering, concrete science and technology, concrete industry management, etc. during the entire award term.

Location

Applicants must be students in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Students in eligible countries can apply for the ACI Foundation MENA Student Excellence Award and the Saudi Arabia Student Excellence Award. International students are eligible to apply for all scholarships that are not region-specific as defined by the sponsor.

Read also: Navigating SME Scholarships

Application Requirements

The application process for ACI Foundation scholarships involves submitting various documents and materials that demonstrate the applicant's qualifications and potential.

Required Documents

Applicants must submit the following:

Contact and educational information
Resume
A 500-word essay discussing their interest in the concrete industry
Official transcripts

Endorsements

Applicants must submit two endorsements. Endorsements are statements of evaluation of the applicant, in terms of potential for growth, character, leadership capacity and career interest. Endorsements must be in the English language. One endorser must be an ACI member (non-student) and the other should be an employer, if possible, or a professor. Students must obtain two endorsements, with one being from an ACI member.

Specific Scholarship Details

The ACI Foundation offers a variety of scholarships and fellowships, each with its own specific focus and eligibility criteria. Several awards are highlighted below:

Bertold E. Weinberg Scholarship: This award is available to graduate students pursuing full-time studies in the field of concrete. Established to honor Mr. Weinberg for his long-time service in managing the Scholarship Program as Chair of the Scholarship Council.
Honorary Dr. Katharine and Bryant Mather Fellowship: This award is available for graduate students pursing a degree in the field of concrete studying construction, design, or materials. Must be a student in a Canadian educational institution. Preference for candidates that are currently active members of Universities on the territory of Quebec and Eastern Ontario. If preferred candidates are not available, secondary candidates from other Canadian ACI chapters will be considered. Established in 1988 to honor Katharine and Bryant Mather for their exceptional contributions to the knowledge of concrete. Initial funds were contributed by the sponsoring committee of an international symposium held in 1987 to honor the Mathers. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mather, deceased, were Honorary Members of ACI and Mr. Mather served as President. Continuing funding is provided by a gift from the Mather estate.
Stewart C. Watson Memorial Fellowship: Awarded to students studying and pursuing a career in concrete materials. Dr. Corley was recognized as an industry leader among those in the structural engineering community for several decades.
Barbara S. and W. Gene Corley Scholarship: Awarded to graduate students in construction, design, education, or materials programs during the year of the award. No internship is required. Established to honor Erlin many contributions to the concrete industry and ACI.
JoAnne K. and Cecil L. Hignett Memorial Scholarship: Awarded to graduate students in construction, design, education, or materials programs during the year of the award. No internship is required.
Kenneth C. Hover Scholarship: Awarded to a graduate or undergraduate student in a nationally accredited engineering, construction management, or concrete industry management degree program. No internship is required.
Nicholas F. Maloof, Jr. Scholarship: Graduate or Undergraduate students studying an advanced degree related to the concrete industry with a focus on construction or building material sciences. First preference will go to candidates who are graduates of a Georgia school, high school or undergrad.
Richard D. Stehly Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship is for students enrolled in a bachelor's degree program from an institution of higher education. The undergraduate study program shall be in the area of concrete with an emphasis on structural design, materials, or construction.
Robert F. Mast Memorial Scholarship: This award honors ACI Past President Robert F. Mast and was created through a generous legacy donation. The award is available to graduate students studying structural engineering with an emphasis on reinforced concrete design or precast prestressed concrete design.
Roger S. Johnston Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship is available to undergraduate students enrolled in a bachelor's degree program from an institution of higher education. Candidates must be in a civil engineering or construction management program.
S.P. Shah Fellowship: This award was sponsored by Surendra P. Shah., Ph.D., Hon. MACI, and supported by several of his past students. The award is available to PhD graduate students with an interest in concrete materials. Applicants must also be student members of ACI.
Ronald G. Burg Leadership Fellowship: The Ronald G. Burg Leadership Fellowship has been established to honor his many contributions to the concrete industry.

There are also scholarships for:

Students studying at a Saudi Arabian university during the award term.
Undergraduate students that have an interest in pursuing careers in construction or becoming a design professional.
Undergraduate students that have displayed leadership abilities and show a desire to become an effective concrete industry leader in the future. Applicants should detail how they have or are acquiring the attributes of a good leader in their submission essay.
Graduate students enrolled in a Master's or Doctoral program in construction, design, education, or materials during the year of the award.
Undergraduate students entering their junior or senior year with an interest in a career in the construction industry and studying in a civil engineering, structural engineering, or construction industry management program.
Graduate students studying an advanced degree in civil engineering with a focus on concrete structures or materials. First preference are candidates who study at Iowa State.
Students pursuing an undergraduate degree or students enrolling in a master's program with an interest in design.
Undergraduate or graduate students. Awardees must participate in an internship in a construction environment prior to the award year.
Students pursuing an undergraduate degree or students enrolling in a Masters program with an interest in construction. The Don Marks Memorial Fellowship provides support to students seeking a builders hands on career in the concrete construction industry.

Preference is given to:

Candidates who are graduates of a Georgia school, high school or undergrad.
Candidates who are currently active members of the ACI Student Chapter at the University of Houston Downtown or Texas A and M University which are affiliated with the Houston Chapter.
Candidates who are studying the use of admixtures (fibers, water reducers etc.) to advance the use of concrete. All applicants must be student members of ACI and active participation in an ACI Student Chapter is favorable.
Students focused on concrete related material science.
Students in a concrete-related degree program for example, construction, construction management, design, structures, architecture, or materials.

Purpose of the Program

The purpose of the ACI Foundationâs student fellowship and scholarship program is to identify, attract, and develop outstanding professionals for future careers in the concrete industry. The ACI Foundation is serving the industry by establishing and distributing scholarships to high potential students in concrete-related graduate and undergraduate degree programs.

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