Civil engineering graduate student, Richard Deschenes, has recently been awarded the ACI BASF Construction Chemicals Student Fellowship for the 2015-16 academic year. Included in the fellowship will be invitations to the American Concrete Institute conventions in Denver and Milwaukee, a mentor that is a concrete industry professional, the opportunity of an arranged 4-6 week summer internship, and a $7,000 stipend.

Deschenes has previously worked alongside associate professor Micah Hale to find ways to repair cracks in the barrier walls on Interstate 540. Due to a process called the alkali silica reaction where silica and alkaline chemicals react to form a gel that attracts water, cracks are damaging many roadways. While researching techniques to treat the walls, Deschenes also studied methods of reducing moisture in the concrete and new pavement mixtures that could prevent the problem in the future. 

"Ricky is a great student and very deserving of this award," said Hale. "This fellowship will support him as he continues his research, and it will open up new opportunities for him to make contacts in the concrete industry."

Deschenes also received the American Concrete Institute's Schwing American Scholarship in 2013.