CarbonCure Announces Recipients of its Sustainability in Concrete Scholarship

CarbonCure Technologies—in collaboration with the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) Program—is thrilled to announce the recipients of its CarbonCure Sustainability in Concrete Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year. This is the third year CarbonCure has provided the scholarship to support outstanding future leaders.

This year’s recipients are:

• Jakob Burckhard of South Dakota State University.
• Omar Palacios of Texas State University, 
• Rachel Shawver of Middle Tennessee State University,
• Hank Wildenradt of California State University, Chico, and
• Anthony Zacieracha of New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Driven by a passion for sustainable concrete, each of these exceptional students has earned a $2,000 scholarship to fuel their education and careers. Their scholarship essays explored opportunities to improve concrete’s sustainability and detailed their personal dedication to a greener future in the industry. 

As CIM Program students, these aspiring concrete leaders are developing essential skills to succeed in the construction sector as well as strategies to spearhead innovation and more environmentally friendly manufacturing. 

"At CarbonCure, we're dedicated to fostering the next wave of concrete industry leaders, particularly those passionate about sustainability," said CEO Rob Niven. "We're thrilled to invest in these innovators. By mid-century, they will undoubtedly be leading the charge, driving the industry toward net-zero emissions."

Scholarship applicants noted that the strong demand for lower carbon building materials is among the factors motivating concrete producers to adopt innovative techniques and technologies, such as CarbonCure, to reduce carbon emissions and boost their businesses. In turn, these future concrete professionals say they are also motivated to work for companies that lead the charge on sustainability.

Hank Wildenradt of CSU Chico aims to "add value to society whether that is from providing sustainable materials or constructing infrastructure." He plans to apply his education by implementing sustainable materials and practices learned at Chico State. He advised that sustainability-minded designers and builders should take caution before shifting away from concrete in favor of lumber, expressing concern that this might lead to “increased deforestation which hurts the climate through the removal of trees as well as all the gas and energy used to cut down, transport, and prepare the wood for building.” Hank believes concrete's durability and longevity are crucial for sustainable building, minimizing the need for frequent reconstruction. "The best way to fight the emissions from construction is to build everything to last," he wrote. 

Rachel Shawver from MTSU envisions a career in concrete sales and management, armed with an MBA, ACI certifications and a deep understanding of sustainable concrete practices. “As a freshman in my Intro to Concrete and Construction course, I was first introduced to this topic and found it fascinating that the construction industry is working to help the environment while still achieving the same results,” she wrote. "Concrete sustainability is an evolving concept with great potential," she added, advocating for carbon mineralized concrete and Type 1L cement to reduce the industry's carbon footprint. "When I enter the workforce, I plan to use my concrete education to educate people, employers and companies on the different types of concrete and why it is important to switch to more environmentally friendly products.”

Omar Palacios of Texas State University, aspires to become a leading project manager, blending his interests in fine arts and concrete and integrating more creativity and sustainability within the industry. “Recycling and using alternative materials can help phase out traditional concrete practices,” he suggested. In the near term, he champions the use of LC3 and CO2 injection systems to reduce emissions and advocates for optimized resource use. "My passion for architecture and design drives me to optimize resource use and minimize emissions by applying cutting-edge structural designs that maintain the integrity of buildings while reducing excess resource consumption," he explained.

In his submission, Jakob Burckhard from South Dakota State University, said he plans to focus his career on management, mix design and logistics, emphasizing concrete's local production, energy efficiency and resilience. "I want to take my knowledge from everything I have learned in the Concrete Industry Management program and apply it in the real world," he wrote, aiming to reduce CO2 output through advanced mix designs and increased use of SCMs. In his essay, Jakob also explored opportunities for innovative building codes. “The proposed change is, for one out of every X number of city blocks, the only structures allowed are concrete and other non-flammable materials. These city blocks would function as a fire break and would run through the city, thereby restricting the spread of fire,” he wrote.

Anthony Zacieracha, owner of a handyman business and a student at NJIT, hopes to work in project management and business development, with the ultimate goal of running his own construction or concrete-focused business. He sees concrete innovation as an ally in the global effort to stabilize our climate. “Advanced concrete materials will often mean reduced energy use for heating and cooling, while reflective pavements will counter urban heat island effects by cooling down temperatures in cities,” he wrote. In his essay, he also highlighted the development of low-carbon alternatives and the potential for concrete to act as a carbon sink. "Through education, experience, and dedication, I am confident that I can initiate such changes in the industry," he added.

The CIM program's focus on concrete-specific business management provides invaluable insights, as evidenced by CarbonCure’s concrete producer partners, who frequently recruit and hire CIM graduates. The ongoing legacy of the CIM program is also demonstrated by the multiple CarbonCure team members who are alumni. 

Rhett Dunlap is an MTSU CIM alum and Utah-based CarbonCure commercial manager who served on the scholarship selection committee. "The MTSU’s CIM program gave me the confidence and skills to pursue a career in thejc concrete industry,” he said. “Working at CarbonCure has been an incredible opportunity to learn and grow, while contributing to a more sustainable future.”

CarbonCure’s scholarship selection committee included:

• Ian Bacich, Technical Services Specialist
• Mike Carter-Conneen, Sr. Director of Global Communications
• Kevin Cail, Chair of Scientific Advisory
• Dave Donaldson, SVP of Sales & Marketing
• Rhett Dunlap, U.S. Commercial Manager
• Caitlyn MacDonald, Lab Operations Manager
• Brady Miller, Technical Services Manager

Interested in working at CarbonCure? Visit our Careers page to explore open roles and learn about our mission and culture.