FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (March 8, 2012) – The American Shotcrete Association (ASA) has awarded Graduate Scholarships to Jessica Benaglio and Patrick Power. Each student will receive a stipend of $3000 (USD) for tuition, residence, books and materials for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Jessica L. Benaglio received a B.S.E. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in Civil & Environmental Engineering in 2011.  She is currently pursuing a M.S.E. in Structural Civil Engineering from the same institution.  During this time, she interned with the Michigan Department of Transportation, performing duties as a highway bridge inspector; surveyor of bridges, roads, entrance/exit ramps and vegetation; designed traffic flow for intersections with MicroStation and obtained her Concrete Field Technician Certification.  Her ultimate goal is to design energy sustainable buildings for which she sees the use of Shotcrete as a fitting application.

Patrick O. Power received his B.Eng. Civil Engineering from Laval University, Quebec City, ON (Canada) in 2011 and is currently pursuing his M.Sc. Civil Engineering from the same university.  His research at Laval is on the durability of North American shotcrete mixes encompassing mixes from coast to coast.  The study aims to provide a wide array of information on mixes ranging from standard coastal Gunite to ternary binder shotcrete.  Power plans to pursue a career in concrete repair and sees that additional research in shotcrete would increase the options available to extend the service-life of infrastructure repairs.

Established in 2008, the purpose of the ASA Graduate Scholarship Program is to identify, attract, and assist outstanding graduate students pursuing careers within the field of concrete with a significant interest in the shotcrete process.  For a complete description of these awards, requirements and directions visit www.shotcrete.org, and click on Grad Scholarships.

ASA is a non-profit organization of contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, designers, engineers, owners, and others with a common interest in promoting and educating the concrete industry on the versatility, quality and economic advantages of the use of shotcrete.  For more information about ASA, visit www.shotcrete.org.