Richard D. Stehly Memorial Scholarship — ACI Foundation 2025–2026
Richard D. Stehly Memorial Scholarship — ACI Foundation 2025–2026: Richard D. Stehly Memorial Scholarship — ACI Foundation 2025–2026, the concrete industry is quietly responsible for shaping the modern world — from highways and skyscrapers to resilient bridges and sustainable foundations for communities. Behind every safe structure is an army of engineers, materials scientists, and construction leaders trained in the science and practice of concrete. The ACI Foundation’s Richard D. Stehly Memorial Scholarship is one of the organization’s signature efforts to ensure the next generation of professionals is well prepared to lead the industry forward. For 2025–2026 the scholarship continues to support promising undergraduate students who show an exceptional interest in concrete design, materials, and sustainability.
This article unpacks the scholarship’s history and purpose, eligibility and application requirements, award amount and benefits, essay expectations (including the sustainability emphasis), selection criteria, tips to craft a competitive application, and how recipients can leverage the award for long-term career growth.
Who was Richard D. Stehly — and why a scholarship in his name matters?
Scholarships named after industry leaders do more than honor memory — they transmit values. Richard D. Stehly served the concrete community with distinction; his leadership and contributions to the American Concrete Institute (ACI) shaped education, technical practice, and industry service. The scholarship bearing his name is intended to carry forward that legacy by supporting undergraduates who are pursuing a concrete-related degree and who demonstrate both potential for professional success and a commitment to positive contributions in areas such as sustainability and durability.
By focusing on undergraduates who are already specializing in concrete-related study areas (structural design, materials, construction), the scholarship targets students at a formative stage when financial support, mentorship, and recognition can significantly influence career trajectory. The Stehly Scholarship therefore plays a modest but strategic role in cultivating the future design and research leaders of the concrete world. (See ACI Foundation scholarship program details.) acifoundation.org
Overview — what the Richard D. Stehly Memorial Scholarship offers (2025–2026)
For the 2025–2026 cycle, the Richard D. Stehly Memorial Scholarship is administered by the ACI Foundation (through the American Concrete Institute’s scholarship programs). The award is a scholarship for undergraduate students completing studies for a bachelor’s degree, focused on concrete-related fields such as structural design, concrete materials, or construction practices. Scholarship award recipients for ACI Foundation scholarships typically receive a $5,000 educational stipend (this is the standard amount for ACI scholarship recipients), along with recognition that can open doors to mentorship and networking within ACI and the broader concrete community.
Importantly, ACI Foundation scholarships are part of a larger fellowship and scholarship program managed by the Foundation; scholarship application windows are coordinated as part of the Foundation’s yearly cycle. For the recent cycles, the online application opens July 1 and closes November 1 (closing at 11:59 p.m. local Eastern time) for the fellowship/scholarship period that follows. Applicants should verify the specific cycle and deadlines on the official ACI Foundation scholarships page each year before applying.
Who is eligible? — Requirements and focus areas
The Richard D. Stehly Memorial Scholarship is intended for undergraduate students who meet the following core requirements (summary of the typical 2025–2026 requirements):
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Enrollment status: Must be a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited institution at the time of application and throughout the award cycle.
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Field of study: Must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a program related to concrete — typical emphases include structural design, concrete materials, construction engineering/management, or an allied civil engineering discipline with a clear focus on concrete.
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Academic progress: Applicants are usually expected to be completing their degree (i.e., in their junior or senior year, or completing degree requirements within the coming academic year).
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Essay requirement: A substantive essay is required; roughly half of the essay must describe the applicant’s personal activities to promote sustainability in their community. Essays that do not include this sustainability component are not considered. (This sustainability emphasis differentiates the Stehly Scholarship from many other awards and signals ACI Foundation’s priority on long-term resilience and responsible material practice.)
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No internship requirement: For this particular scholarship, an internship is not required to apply, though relevant experience strengthens an application.
These eligibility points mirror the ACI Foundation’s published description for the Stehly Scholarship; applicants should always check the Foundation’s dedicated scholarship page for any cycle-specific clarifications, documentation lists, or updates.
Application timeline and deadlines (what to watch for in 2025–2026)
The ACI Foundation typically runs an annual scholarship cycle. For the 2025–2026 academic awards, the public application window historically opens July 1 and closes November 1 (11:59 PM Eastern) — applicants for the 2026–2027 cycle were invited using that schedule in 2025. While many secondary sites summarize the cycle, the authoritative source is the ACI Foundation scholarships application portal. Because deadlines and application launches can shift, always confirm dates on the ACI Foundation site well before the July opening so you can prepare materials in advance.
Award value and what winners receive
Scholarship recipients under the ACI Foundation scholarship program typically receive $5,000 USD as an educational stipend. That amount aligns with the Foundation’s standard scholarship award and is intended to help cover tuition, course fees, research expenses, or other education-related costs. Beyond the monetary award, recipients gain recognition from ACI — exposure that can lead to networking opportunities, mentorship from industry professionals, and invitations to ACI events that are influential in the technical community. These non-monetary benefits often deliver outsized career value in engineering and construction sectors.
What the selection committee looks for
Selection for the Richard D. Stehly Memorial Scholarship is competitive and holistic. The Scholarship Council evaluates candidates on a blend of academic promise, demonstrated interest in concrete-related practice, and the applicant’s potential for professional success. Specific attributes the committee prioritizes include:
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Technical focus in coursework and projects: Evidence that the applicant has focused on concrete materials, design, or construction, such as relevant coursework, senior capstone projects, or undergraduate research.
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Sustainability engagement: Because ACI places clear emphasis on sustainability, about half of the applicant’s scholarship essay must describe their personal sustainability activities. These could include community projects, campus sustainability initiatives, research on sustainable concrete materials (e.g., low-carbon cement alternatives), or volunteer work related to resilient infrastructure. Essays that fail to include the sustainability component are typically not considered.
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Leadership and communication: Participation in student chapters of ACI, leadership roles in relevant student or professional organizations, and outreach activities that show potential to advance the industry.
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Letters of recommendation: Strong, specific recommendations from faculty or industry mentors that document the applicant’s technical skill and character.
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Clarity of career goals: A well-articulated plan for how the applicant will contribute to the concrete industry — whether through design, materials research, construction practice, or sustainability leadership.
Because the award is configured to propel students into industry leadership, candidates who demonstrate both technical depth and community-minded action — especially around sustainability — stand out.
Essay guidance — structure and content to satisfy the sustainability requirement
The essay is the single most important item in many ACI Foundation scholarship applications. The Stehly Scholarship’s explicit requirement — that approximately half the essay describe the applicant’s personal activities to promote sustainability in their community — means applicants must thoughtfully balance technical interests with community engagement.
Recommended structure (for a ~1,000–1,500 word essay depending on application guidance):
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Introductory paragraph (100–150 words): Introduce your academic focus and your overarching career goal in concrete engineering or materials. Hook the reader with a brief anecdote or a defining experience (e.g., a community bridge project, a materials lab discovery, or a sustainability initiative you helped lead).
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Technical background (250–350 words): Summarize relevant coursework, research projects, or design work. Mention specific skills (finite-element modeling, mix design, materials testing, field inspection) and a major project or paper that demonstrates your technical competence.
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Sustainability activities (450–600 words): This is the heart of the essay. Describe the activities you personally initiated or led that promoted sustainability — quantify scope and impact if possible (e.g., reduced cement content by X% in a mix trial, led campus campaign that cut construction waste by Y tons, organized a regional workshop on low-carbon concrete). Explain your motivations, challenges you faced, and lessons learned. Tie this experience to concrete-specific sustainability aspects (durability, embodied carbon, lifecycle thinking).
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Professional vision and impact (200–300 words): Tie together technical training and sustainability practice. Explain how winning the Stehly Scholarship will help you advance a specific initiative or career path — whether graduate study, research on sustainable binders, or industry implementation of durable low-carbon mixes.
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Conclusion (75–125 words): Reiterate your commitment and summarize the unique contribution you will make to concrete science and practice.
Tips: use concrete metrics (pun intended) and real outcomes; provide references to technical work when appropriate (lab reports, posters, publications); include a short reflection on how ACI involvement (student chapter participation, conventions) has shaped your outlook.
This guidance reflects the ACI Foundation’s emphasis; be sure to check word limits and essay prompts on the ACI application portal.
Supporting documents — what to prepare
Typical supporting materials for ACI Foundation scholarships include:
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Official academic transcripts (unofficial copies are sometimes acceptable at application time but official copies may be required if selected),
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Two or more letters of recommendation from professors or industry supervisors,
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A resume/CV highlighting relevant projects, leadership, and technical skills,
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The required essay(s) including the sustainability section,
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Any supplementary materials such as abstracts of undergraduate research, poster PDFs, or project summaries.
Because document formats and submission rules can vary slightly by cycle, compile and format everything early, and ensure recommenders have ample time to write thoughtful letters.
How winners have used the scholarship — short case examples
Looking at recent award recipients provides insight into how the scholarship supports career development. For example, the ACI Foundation’s awardees list includes recipients whose focus areas span concrete design, forensic engineering, sustainability, and durability. Past named winners (e.g., those listed publicly by ACI Foundation and in ACI news releases) have used the award to support capstone projects, travel to ACI conventions (networking and technical sessions), and to help fund summer research or field experiences that became the basis for further graduate study or industry roles. Recognition from ACI can also increase visibility for student research and lead to mentorship connections in academia and industry.
Practical timeline and application checklist — a sample schedule
If you plan to apply for the 2025–2026 cycle (or similar future cycles), here’s a practical timeline you can follow:
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6–8 months before deadline (Jan–Apr): Identify recommenders, confirm their willingness, and gather transcript request instructions from your institution. Begin drafting your essay and resume.
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3–4 months before deadline (May–June): Draft essay focusing on sustainability activities; request feedback from faculty or mentors. Prepare project summaries and gather any supporting materials.
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1–2 months before deadline (July–Aug): Finalize essay and resume; ask recommenders to prepare letters and give them a firm submission date. Confirm all documents are in required formats (PDF, etc.).
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Application window (July 1 — Nov 1 typical): Complete online application early rather than last minute; upload documents and verify recommenders submitted letters. Keep screenshots or saved copies of submission confirmations.
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After submission: Continue refining your CV and stay engaged in relevant research or industry projects. If selected, follow award instructions and prepare for any reporting requirements.
Again, confirm exact dates on the official ACI Foundation scholarships page each year.
Beyond the money — networking, mentorship, and long-term benefits
The value of ACI Foundation scholarships extends beyond tuition relief. Becoming an ACI scholarship recipient puts your name before the Scholarship Council, potential mentors in the ACI community, and the broader network of industry contributors to ACI. Recipients are often invited to attend ACI conventions (sometimes with travel support), presented with opportunities to present posters or technical talk summaries, and connected with mentors who can advise on graduate study, research directions, or entry into specialist industry roles (forensic engineering, materials development, sustainability assessment).
If you’re awarded the scholarship, proactively use these opportunities: present your poster at ACI events, join ACI student chapters, contribute to ACI webinars, and maintain contact with your recommenders and mentors. The early career momentum from these activities often proves decisive in competitive job or graduate school applications.
Final thoughts — making a strong, memorable application
The Richard D. Stehly Memorial Scholarship is designed to reward students who combine technical interest in concrete with a genuine commitment to sustainability and community impact. To create a competitive application:
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Be explicit about your concrete-related technical experience and how it prepares you for industry or research.
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Make the sustainability half of your essay the strongest, most specific part — document what you did, how you measured impact, and what you learned.
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Seek recommenders who can speak in technical detail about your capabilities and leadership.
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Demonstrate commitment to ACI and to the concrete community (student chapter activity or attendance at technical sessions is a plus).
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Submit early and ensure every document meets the ACI Foundation’s format and verification requirements.
By aligning technical depth with a clear sustainability narrative and strong supporting documentation, candidates maximize their chances of standing out to the selection committee. The scholarship pays forward the legacy of Richard D. Stehly by investing in the kinds of students who will shape a durable, sustainable future for concrete.