Richard Deschenes, a graduate student in the department of civil engineering, has received the 2014 Dwight David Eisenhower Graduate Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Transportation. This fellowship is designed to attract talented students to the field of transportation, and to encourage professionals in the field to pursue advanced degrees.

The fellowship provides $11,500 for one year, and it covers tuition, a stipend and travel to the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in January in Washington D.C.

“Richard’s work as a student and researcher has been exemplary,” said Micah Hale, professor of civil engineering and Deschenes mentor. “This fellowship is a great recognition of that. I’m happy to see one of our students getting this valuable support to further his education in the transportation field.”

Deschenes is currently working on his master’s degree. Along with Hale, he is conducting research on ways to prevent damage along Interstate 540 from a process called alkali silica reaction.

After finishing his master’s degree Deschenes will pursue a doctorate in civil engineering at the U of A. He plans to work in academia, teaching and conducting research in the field of civil engineering.