DENVER, CO The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Colorado announces $36,500 in scholarship funding for college students during a reception held at Lakewood County Club.

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 their academic records, involvement in student chapters of professional organizations and community service.

Steve Maxson, P.E., 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, which was established in honor of Lee Rice of Leonard Rice Engineers.  Robert Wilson, Jr., electrical engineering student, University of Colorado (CU) 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, which was 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 operation committee, which plans all aspects of the camp and 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 (CSU) (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, Colo.); 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.  

The scholarship recipients were selected by ACEC Colorado's Scholarship Committee, including Jeff Kobriger, P.E., committee chair, HCDA Engineering; Les Botham, P.E., retired, Leonard Rice Engineers Inc.; Brad Foos, FFG Retirement Counseling; Jeremy Musson, Pinyon Environmental Inc.; Dixie Shear, Jefferson County Department of Highways & Transportation; Elizabeth Stolfus, P.E., Stolfus & Associates Inc.; Chris Strawn, PE, Jansen Strawn Consulting Engineers; Chris Tepen, P.E., Hartwig & Associates Inc.; and Bryant Walters, PE, 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 Engineer of Colorado and ACEC Colorado. We thank everyone who supports our scholarship program and are pleased to make these financial resources available to help cultivate the future engineering community. It's an investment that will benefit communities in Colorado and across the globe for years to come."