News Detail

Taking Care of our Future!

1/1/2005

In 2001, ACI President Dan Baker initiated a new Student Fellowship Program, which the ACI Concrete Research and Education Foundation (ConREF) oversees. Dan's goal was to help ensure that, as we looked forward to our next 100 years, we could count on attracting the "best and brightest" talent to the concrete industry. Through Dan's vision and efforts, the successful Cornerstone for Leadership Campaign raised $2.6 million in pledges to support the program.

During annual award cycles, each selected student receives a $10,000 stipend toward tuition, housing, books, and materials; assignment of an ACI-member mentor to assist in professional development; expenses-paid attendance at ACI conventions; and the possibility of a 4 to 6 week paid internship at an ACI-member company. The total value of each award is about $20,000.

So far, 10 students have received ACI Student Fellowships:

2001-2002: Stephen Durham (University of Arkansas, structures); T. Eric Hayes (Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, construction management); and David Tepke (Penn State University, structural engineering and materials);

2002-2003: Raissa Douglas (Northwestern University, structural engineering and materials); Amy Kehrer (University of Michigan, structures and materials); and Katherine Kuder (Northwestern University, cementitious materials);

2003-2004: Joseph Clendenen (University of Missouri-Rolla, construction materials) and Heather McLeod (University of Kansas, concrete materials and design); and

2004-2005: Elizabeth Gaynor (Villanova University, structural engineering) and Kyle Riding (University of Texas at Austin, concrete materials).

Anyone who's met these students can attest that they have a "high potential for success" and exemplify the type of talent we want in the concrete industry. In turn, the fellowship recipients are unanimous in commenting that the ACI program is extremely valuable because it goes beyond a monetary award by providing mentors, the opportunity to learn and network at ACI conventions, and possible internships in the industry.

Simply put, this program works, and puts us well on the way to achieving the goals that Dan Baker envisioned. But we must also recognize that, while we were able to support these 10 students with the funds currently available, there were many other highly qualified finalists we could not assist because of insufficient resources.

Clearly, there is more to do! To increase available resources, we will continue our original plan based on building an endowment for fellowships from one-time industry pledges, supplemented with annual gifts. Through direct contact and e-mail correspondence, we will ask for both corporate and individual member support.

We would also like you to consider recognizing corporate or industry leaders through sponsorship of an endowed fellowship in their name. Two such fellowships are currently under development by ACI members' one in memory of Chester P. Siess, ACI Past President and an icon in the field of concrete design, and the other in honor of Allen G. Davis, internationally renowned expert in nondestructive testing.

While we know that numerous competing demands are made on our members' resources, including many from ACI itself, I cannot overemphasize the importance of supporting our Student Fellowship Program. We need to take care of our future!

You will be hearing more about the fellowship program, but in the meantime, do not hesitate to contact ACI's Rich Heitzmann (Rich.Heitzmann@concrete.org) or me with questions.

Anthony E. Fiorato, President
American Concrete Institute
fiorato@CTLGroup.com

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