Engineering Student Awarded ACI Fellowship

Photo Submitted

Cameron Murray

The American Concrete Institute Foundation has selected Cameron Murray, a senior civil engineering major, to receive the Baker Student Fellowship Award for the 2012-13 academic year. As part of his award, Murray will receive a $7,000 stipend, will take part in an internship with an engineering firm or concrete manufacturing firm and will have the opportunity to attend two ACI conventions.

Murray has been conducting research with Micah Hale, assistant professor of civil engineering. Along with Richard Deschenes, another undergraduate student, they have been studying the bond between concrete and prestressing strands, steel strands that are cast into concrete to strengthen and reinforce it. The researchers have been evaluating tests that measure the strength of the bond between strands and surrounding concrete and looking at the way that different variables, such as the type of mortar used in the tests, affect the outcomes.

“This is a very competitive award,” said Hale, “and Cameron has worked very hard to earn it. It’s great to see our students getting this kind of national recognition.”

When he graduates, Murray plans to earn a master’s degree and continue doing concrete research.