The ACI Foundation is pleased to partner with the ACI Houston Chapter to create a new student academic award. Through the Chapter’s generous donation, the ACI Foundation can offer an additional fellowship to benefit students studying in concrete-related degree programs, the ACI Houston Chapter Fellowship.
The ACI Foundation celebrates the ACI Houston Chapter. This chapter has been a continued supporter of students studying in the concrete industry. The Chapter has financially supported students to attend the ACI Concrete Convention for student competitions. Houston Chapter members have also assisted students with materials and mentoring. Since 2020, ACI has recognized the Houston Chapter as an Excellent Chapter. Creating this fellowship is one more way that the ACI Houston Chapter gives back to the industry. The ACI Houston Chapter Fellowship will be awarded to a student pursuing a master’s or doctorate degree program for construction, design, education, or materials. Preferred candidates are those currently active members of the ACI Student Chapter at the University of Houston Downtown or Texas A&M University – which are affiliated with the Houston Chapter.
“The ACI Houston Chapter has several endowed scholarships. When considering this fellowship, the board was impressed that this program leads to the higher number of awardees who stay in the concrete industry,” said James Taylor, 2023 ACI Houston Chapter President.
About the award
The award includes a $10,000 educational stipend that will cover tuition, books, and supplies. Besides the monetary support for schooling, the fellowship recipients are also supported to attend three ACI conventions. One of these includes an in-person interview with the ACI Foundation’s Scholarship Council. At the convention, they can connect with industry mentors, get to know technical committees and their work product, give presentations, fill leadership roles in the SYPAC committees, and also develop their own peer network. An important part of the ACI Foundation’s program is pairing students with industry mentors, where mentors offer guidance and coaching and act as sounding boards for mentees. Providing students with a mentor also facilitates networking and helps expand career opportunities.
About The ACI Foundation
The ACI Foundation began in 1989 to promote progress, innovation, and collaboration. It remains a wholly owned and operated non-profit subsidiary of the American Concrete Institute. Three councils make up the ACI Foundation. The first is The Concrete Innovation Council, which identifies technologies and innovations and helps to implement when appropriate. The second is the Concrete Research Council, which funds and assists in the research of new concrete technologies. And finally, the Scholarship Council, which facilitates student fellowships and scholarships.
