News Detail

Thank you, ACI Chapters for Supporting ACI Foundation Goals

11/1/2021

The annual ACI Chapter special section in Concrete International is an opportune time to show our appreciation for the work and effort that local members of ACI chapters contribute to the mission of the Institute. As a Past President of the ACI Washington Chapter, I am keenly aware of the important role our chapters play. ACI chapter members are involved in promoting education and professional enrichment in a variety of ways, including monthly meeting presentations, technical seminars, and social functions. ACI chapters also serve as local sponsoring groups around the world, providing certification training and other activities that keep ACI Always advancing.

Within that context, I would like to highlight the engagement of ACI chapters in the outstanding initiative my predecessor, ACI Past President Jeffrey W. Coleman, launched during last year’s ACI Virtual Concrete Convention. In the fall, he announced a challenge to raise $1 million as part of the ACI Foundation’s annual appeal. Jeff wanted to help increase awareness and visibility for the ACI Foundation and familiarize members with the programs it offers, which include scholarships and fellowships, research grants, and technology innovation. In the end, $1.3 million was raised.

Coleman met virtually with over 25 local chapters across the United States and Canada to discuss the initiative, learn more about each chapter, and share information about managing challenges caused by the pandemic. He also learned that many of the chapters already fund their own scholarships or fellowships for their local members using their own resources.

These meetings provided information on how chapters can use the ACI Foundation to create a scholarship or fellowship for their local students at a national level. Chapters can set the criteria for their scholarship or fellowship and work with the ACI Foundation to promote, recruit, and select recipients. As a result of these meetings, some chapters decided to create a scholarship or fellowship with the ACI Foundation.

For example, the Nicholas F. Maloof Jr. ACI Georgia Chapter Fellowship will be awarded to graduate or undergraduate students studying an advanced degree related to the concrete industry with a focus on construction or building material sciences. Applications will be considered from candidates who are graduates of a Georgia school (high school or undergraduate). Further preference will be given to candidates who are a dependent of a Georgia resident.

Similarly, the ACI Ontario Chapter Graduate Scholarship will be awarded to any student who has completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited higher education institute. At the time of acceptance of this award (but not necessarily at the time of application), the applicant must have been accepted for graduate study in concrete research or construction at an accredited university in Ontario, Canada, and remain a full-time graduate student during the scholarship award term. This scholarship will recognize a student who embodies the dedication and hard work that Nick Bada brought to the industry. He served as President of the ACI Ontario Chapter and Chair of the 1990 ACI Concrete Convention in Toronto, ON, Canada. Bada also championed student initiatives and taught concrete-related courses at Ryerson University.

ACI applauds these new opportunities that will support the next generation of concrete industry professionals—and who may be inspired to get involved in the work of ACI through a local chapter.

ACI Foundation’s Fall Appeal has started

To continue our Foundation’s growth and success, please support it by donating. You will be recognized as having participated in the One-Thousand-Donor Challenge, the objective of which is to reach one thousand donors during my Presidential term. And please know that a contribution of any size will be greatly appreciated and put to very good use. As a former ACI Foundation Trustee, I have seen first-hand the important work our Foundation does and have personal interest in promoting its work in industry research, student fellowships and scholarships, and cutting-edge innovation. The ACI Foundation has grown into an industry leading source of thought leadership, new technology funding, and student support. Your contribution will help maintain and advance that effort.

There is so much more we can be doing. All we need is the continued help of people like you. If you are interested in learning more about the ACI Foundation or would like to create a scholarship or fellowship for your chapter, visit www.acifoundation.org.

Cary S. Kopczynski

ACI President