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Scholarships

The ACPA's Research & Education Foundation
Besser and Mel Marshall Scholarships

The Besser & Mel Marshall Scholarships are up to three $3,500 college scholarships that are awarded to students whose course of study is related to concrete pipe production, application / installation or research. Any and all students who attend (or plan to attend) a technical program, community college, or university (undergraduate or graduate program) are encouraged to apply.

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP

The Besser & Mel Marshall Scholarship programs are intended to help attract and/or retain students who will make a positive impact on the concrete pipe industry.

About the Scholarships

Besser Scholarship
In 2016 the Besser Scholarship was established in recognition of the American Concrete Pipe Association’s annual National Concrete Pipe Week. The employee-owners of Besser Company established the scholarship, with the ACPA Foundation, to invest in talented and energetic students that have an interest in joining our industry and moving it forward.
 
The Besser Scholarship is a tribute to Jesse Besser, Jon Dannenberg, Joe Pelchat and countless others who embraced training and education as pillars of Besser Company. Through their foresight, ingenuity, dedication and leadership Besser Company earned an industry-wide reputation for providing impactful training during Pipe Schools held in Sioux City, Iowa, onsite courses in producers’ facilities and as part of ACPA’s annual Pipe School. Besser staff train and educate hundreds of industry members annually about the production of concrete pipe, box culverts and all shapes of dry cast and wet cast products, mix designs, machine operation and maintenance and curing.
 
Mel Marshall Scholarship
The Mel Marshall Scholarship was established in 2023 as a tribute to the legacy of the industry icon Mel Marshall. The primary objective is to honor Mel Marshall unwavering commitment to teaching and advancing knowledge within the concrete pipe industry. By creating this scholarship, ACPAs Foundation aims to ensure the continuation of Mel's impact, both personally and professionally, on the ongoing growth and development of the concrete pipe industry.
 

When are applications due?

The scholarship must be submitted by 11:59 pm CT on October 9th, 2026.
 

How can a student apply?
 

Application forms for the 2026 scholarship can be accessed by clicking the button below. Applications are due by October 9th, 2026. The committee will review applications and award the scholarship at the 2027 ACPA Pipe School being held in January 25th - 28th, 2027, in Raleigh, NC.
 

About Besser Company
 

Besser is headquartered in Alpena, Michigan and has locations in Boone and Sioux City, Iowa, Compton, California and Montreal, Canada. Besser equipment is operating in more than 130 countries worldwide. The company supplies complete manufacturing systems for the pipe, precast, masonry, hardscape and ready-mix segments of the industry. In addition, Besser manufactures curing systems for all segments of the concrete industry. The company manufacturers parts, provides service and offers training from manufacturing locations staffed with Sales and Technical Service Representatives throughout the world.
 

About Mel Marshall
 

Mel Marshall, a graduate of the University of Alberta in 1960 with a degree in Civil Engineering, brought a wealth of experience from his extensive involvement in the concrete and steel industries. In 1980, he founded Mel C. Marshall Industrial Consultants Inc., a consulting company dedicated to serving the concrete industry.
 
Mel's contributions spanned over 60 years in the concrete pipe and precast industries. His influence extended to participation in committees of Standards Associations such as ASTM and CSA, showcasing his commitment to upholding industry standards. The scholarship, bearing his name, serves as a living tribute to Mel Marshall's enduring impact on the concrete industry. 
 

Scholarship Recipients

2025

Besser Scholarship Recipient – Clay Fisher

Mel C. Marshall Recipient - Gage Kahl

2024

Claire Puckett, Troup High School, Tyler, TX

Kayla Harris, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX

Peter Benson, South Dakota State University, Sioux Falls, SD

2023

Ava Wesner, Posen High School, Posen, Michigan

Michael McDole, Student at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia

2022

Connor Davidson, Civil Engineering student, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

Joseph McDaniel, Graduate Student at Middle Tennessee State University School of Concrete, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

2021

Amit Pokharel, Graduate Research Assistant at University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas

2020

Dania Flores, Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program at California State University, Chico, California

2019

Danielle McCrackin, studying for an MBA at Southern New Hampshire University, Hooksett, New Hampshire

Matthew Mackowski, Civil Engineering degree at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey

2018

Mason Davis, Concrete Industry Management degree at Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas

2017

Joe Pelica, Mechanical Engineering Technology student at Delta College, Bay City, Michigan