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The
ICRI Carolinas Chapter is happy to announce the winner
of our 2008-09 Scholarship:
Justin Matthew
Miller
Charlotte, NC
Justin is a Senior at N.C. State University with a 3.45
GPA and his winning essay is featured below.
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The
concrete repair industry is a very fast growing one in
today’s society. Many aging concrete structures are due
repairs and the abundance of these structures is only
growing just like the use of concrete in
the construction of these structures grew years ago. The
repair of these concrete structures is a very delicate
matter. Improper repair will not fix the problems caused
by aging concrete and could even worsen the problems
present by the aged concrete.
To insure proper repair of these concrete structures,
there should be a concrete repair code (similar to the
ACI 318 design code) implemented. This repair code would
set standards and specifications that must be followed
to repair concrete structures. It would give engineers a
basis to check there calculations against and verify
that their repair design would be sufficient for the
identified problem. Safety is the main issue. Concrete
structures, like any other structure must be safe for
those using it and the surrounding environment. As these
structures wear down, their safety is diminished. Their
original level of safety must be salvaged. Repairs to
these structures must be regulated to insure that they
redeem their original level of safety.
These projects should not only be designed by engineers
with experience in concrete repair. The number of
concrete repair projects is rapidly increasing. This
means that more engineers are needed to work on
these projects then before. Some engineers in other
fields may switch to concrete repair to fill these
needed roles. These engineers are just as competent as
those that have previous experience, but they will need
a “manual” or code to follow to insure proper design. If
only engineers with previous experience in this field
are allowed to work on these projects there will be a
shortage of engineers and an abundance of projects.
This will cause long wait times and further wear on
concrete structures that require repair, decreasing
their safety. A concrete repair code should
be implemented and all professional engineers should be
allowed to design these concrete repair projects, not
just those with experience in concrete repair. |
A $1,500
scholarship will be awarded in the fall of each year for students
involved in civil engineering or construction curriculums. Junior
or Senior level students will be given precedence. The scholarship
will be awarded based on a 300 to 500 word essay sent electronically
to the Executive Director and then forwarded blind to the
Scholarship Committee for judging. The title of the essay for the
2008 scholarship is:
“Should there be
a concrete repair code (similar to the ACI 318 design code) or
should these projects be designed only by engineers with experience
in concrete repair? Explain you point of view.”
In all
instances, the Board of Directors will have the final authority in
the awarding of scholarship money.
The following
rules apply (rev. Jan. 2008):
1) The
applicant must be a fulltime student of a four-year college in the
states of either North Carolina or South Carolina.
2) Scholarship money, if awarded, will be sent directly to the
school.
3) The Executive Director will forward all essays in a blind format
to the Scholarship Committee. The essays will be judged and
weighted based on the class level of the student.
The recipients will be announced by May 23th.
5) The student’s enrollment will be verified with the college's
admissions office prior to sending a check to the school’s Financial
Aid Office.
6) Past scholarship recipients may reapply for the scholarship the
following year. Essay themes will vary and will require new essay
each year of re-application.
7) The ICRI Board of Directors will be the final authority in the
distribution of any and all funds. |
