The American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado presented $36,500 in scholarship funding for college students during a reception held at Lakewood County Club on March 31.

The 2016-17 scholarships were awarded to 13 students representing nine Colorado colleges with engineering programs accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology. The scholars were selected from a field of 41 applicants based on academic records, involvement in student chapters of professional organizations and community service.

Steve Maxson, principal of Maxson Engineering, opened the awards presentation by encouraging the scholars to build their networks, collaborate, take measured risks, obtain their professional engineering licenses and get involved with ACEC Colorado, which provides ongoing educational opportunities and resources to build their careers.

The council awarded several memorial scholarships created in honor of outstanding engineers.
Rosalie O’Brien, an environmental engineering student at Colorado School of Mines (Golden), received the $6,000 Leonard Rice Memorial Scholarship, established in honor of Lee Rice of Leonard Rice Engineers.  

Robert Wilson, Jr., electrical engineering student, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, received the council’s $5,000 William Russell Stoneman Scholarship, made possible through an endowment established by the widow of William Russell Stoneman.

Stephanie Panza, an environmental engineering student at Colorado School of Mines, was awarded the $4,000 Fu Hua Chen Scholarship, established by ACEC Colorado’s Board of Directors to honor Fu Hua Chen. As the Council’s top scholarship recipients, O’Brien and Wilson will advance to the ACEC National scholarship competition, where they could win additional scholarship funding up to $11,500.

Wyatt Reis, a civil engineering student at CU Boulder, received the $2,000 Sandy Donnel Memorial Scholarship, which was established in 2015 to honor Donnel, who served as the council’s executive director for 25 years. This scholarship recognizes an engineering student for outstanding community service.

Reis was selected for his service to Camp Kesem, a weeklong summer camp that assists children of parents with cancer. Reis worked on the operations committee, which plans all aspects of the camp. He plans to extend his involvement with the organization as a camp counselor this summer.

A $3,000 scholarship was awarded to Alec Gordon, a civil engineering student at CU Boulder. Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 were awarded to Joshua Smith, a biomedical and mechanical engineering student at Colorado State University (Fort Collins); Kristen Marberry, a geophysical engineering student at Colorado School of Mines; Shawn King, an engineering student with an emphasis in mechatronics and math at CSU Pueblo; Ryan Good, an engineering student at Fort Lewis College (Durango); Danielle Fox, an engineering student with an emphasis in mechatronics, CSU Pueblo; Niki Fochtman, a chemical and biological engineering student at CU Boulder; and Jordan Becker, a civil engineering technology student at CSU Pueblo.

Additionally, in partnership with the American Public Works Association, the $2,500 Jack Bruce Memorial Scholarship was awarded to CSU civil engineering student Kalli Wegren.  

ACEC Colorado’s Scholarship Committee selected the scholarship recipients. Committee members include Jeff Kobriger, committee chair, HCDA Engineering; Les Botham, retired, Leonard Rice Engineers Inc.; Brad Foos, FFG Retirement Counseling; Jeremy Musson, Pinyon Environmental Inc.; Dixie Shear, Jefferson County Dept. of Highways & Transportation; Elizabeth Stolfus, Stolfus & Associates Inc.; Chris Strawn, Jansen Strawn Consulting Engineers; Chris Tepen, Hartwig & Associates Inc.; and Bryant Walters, Collins Engineers Inc.

“The council is also pleased to provide educational support to organizations that promote math and science to high school students,” said Marilen Reimer, executive director, ACEC Colorado. “This year, we awarded $1,000 to Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA), $2,500 to the Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program and $2,000 to Colorado’s annual High School Bridge Building Contest, which is sponsored by the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Society of Professional Engineers of Colorado and ACEC Colorado.

ACEC Colorado’s Scholarship Fund is supported by contributions from council members and an annual golf tournament, slated this year for Aug. 1 at Fossil Trace Club in Golden.