Scholarships
We are pleased to announce our WA State industry’s annual Essay Contest for Washington Students in cooperation with our National Industry Association, NRMCA. Visit http://www.nrmca.org/products/awards/Essay_Contest.asp for additional information.
Our National Ready Mix Concrete Association (NRMCA) conducts an annual National High School Essay contest for High School students and awards scholarships for post high school education. We are asking the assistance of High School Guidance Counselors to help communicate this scholarship opportunity to your eligible WA High Schools Students. Please see the enclosed information provided.
The Rules:
• The Essay Contest is open to all high school students ages 16 – 18 at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school term.
• An entry form (enclosed) must be included with all essays and returned to the Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association. Our state Association will determine a winning state essay and will advance that essay to the National competition to represent Washington State. Our Association will award the winning state essay author a local scholarship award of $500. Students should submit their essay to the WA STATE Association NO LATER THAN November 28th , 2011,
• Entries must be typed, double spaced, and NOT to exceed 600 words.
• Essays will be judged on content and writing ability (grammar, style, clarity, and creativity). Possible themes include concrete’s benefit to society; how concrete affects the environment; and using concrete to build homes, commercial building, bridges or roads. Essays should demonstrate a student’s awareness of concrete’s role as a building material in homes, commercial buildings, streets and highways.
• We acknowledge there are many resources available to students however, the submitted essay MUST be a product of the students own work and an original composition.
Suggested themes for students to consider include:
- Imagine if Portland Cement Ready Mix Concrete was invented today. How would Portland Cement Ready Mix Concrete affect the way we build, live, and change the future of our society ?
- There are many attributes of Portland Cement Ready Mix Concrete that contribute towards achieving “Building Green” and “Sustainable or “LEED” Development. If you were going to start your own city, how would you use Ready Mix concrete to build your city to be a very Green and Sustainable model for others to follow? Describe how Portland Cement Ready Mix Concrete would contribute to each of your environmental objectives and its advantages over other building materials. Visit www.concretethinker.com for ideas.
- “Concrete” was first used by the Romans. How has the contribution and use of Portland Cement Ready Mix Concrete Construction changed our world and contributed to our quality of life?
- In WA state, Ready Mix Concrete has a played a prominent role in Transportation, Hydro-Electric power and Waterway management. Identify one or more “Legacy Projects” that have shaped the future of Washington state by using Ready mixed concrete, what role did Ready Mix Concrete have in your Legacy project and what benefits did WA state realize as a result ? Hint: National Interstate Highway system (1950’s), FDR’s “New Deal” and Public Works Administration (1930’s)
- OPEN ESSAY SUBJECT: The student may select a topic that communicates the significance, unique attributes, and environmental contribution of Portland Cement Ready Mixed Concrete to any subject area of their choice. BE CREATIVE!!!!
*** Note: A review of the beginnings, historical and contemporary use of Portland Cement Ready Mix Concrete and its unique constructability features may provide good background or initial research for the student’s Essay topic. A good On Line resource providing a general overview of the use of Portland Cement Ready Mix Concrete as a primary construction material and quantifies Sustainable and Environmental attributes can be found at: www.concretethinker.com
Scholarship Award Overview:
• The National NRMCA winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship if they enroll for their freshman year in a concrete-related curriculum such as: Concrete Industry Management offered at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, California State University at Chico, Arizona State University in Phoenix and Texas State University in San Marco. Other eligible programs include those at Alpena College in Michigan or Rhodes State College in Ohio, or other majors directly related to the concrete industry, such as; construction materials science/engineering. If the winner chooses not to enroll in a concrete-related curriculum, he or she will receive a $2,000 scholarship for their freshman year at the college of his or her choice.
• Entries are judged by an independent and impartial panel of industry executives and college faculty members as selected by NRMCA. Judges will not be made aware of the name or home state of the contestant.
NRMCA reserves the right to publish the winning entry in whole or in part and will become the property of NRMCA. The NRMCA will publish the winning essay in their Association periodicals, internet web page (www.nrmca.org) and other industry periodicals.
Essays should be postmarked no later than November 28th:
Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association
22223 7th Avenue S, Des Moines WA, 98198-6221
Please mark “Essay Submittal” on the outside of the envelope.
Download essay submittal form here.
Entry Submittals should be neat and cleanly presented in a suitable presentation folder. Should the student wish to include pictures or other digital medium along with their submittal, we suggest they be well presented and within the context and scope of their essay.
For more information, please contact Amy Black (206) 878-1622 or by email: ablack@washingtonconcrete.org
The Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association is pleased to participate in a scholarship program to promote awareness of the use and contribution of ready mixed concrete as a significant building material to help shape the world around us and to provide this opportunity to enhance the educational future and experiences of our Washington State high school students.
Best wishes to our Washington High School Students,
Bruce T. Chattin
Executive Director