The American Galvanizers Association (AGA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Galvanize the Future: A Richard L. Brooks Memorial Scholarship essay contest. Two students were selected from applicants enrolled in architecture, construction, or engineering programs in colleges throughout North America.

Matthew Cristi is currently working on his Master's of Science in Civil Engineering at Stanford University.  His essay addressed the problems of America's infrastructure, especially the three major transportation construction markets in the United States including highway, transit, and railroad. Hot-dip galvanized steel not only minimizes the costs of a highway project, but it also allows one to allocate money towards transit projects and road projects. It is evident that hot-dip galvanized steel is a material that should be implemented into infrastructure projects.

Hannah Zulasky is working on her Master's degree in Architecture at the University of Oregon.  Her essay provided insights on why and when to utilize hot-dip galvanizing and the ultimate corrosion protection it provides, specifically initial costs and overall life-cycle costs. Choosing galvanized steel to achieve a long life while immersed in concrete, or exposed to exterior and high moisture environments is a smart decision for long-term sustainability for a variety of structures.

The current and past scholarship winners can be viewed on the AGA’s website. The AGA’s scholarship program is named in honor of the late Richard Brooks of Duncan Galvanizing in Everett, MA. Brooks was a great advocate in the galvanizing industry and integral to shaping the AGA into the organization it is today.

The 2021 Galvanize the Future: A Richard L. Brooks Memorial Scholarship, will award two $2,500 prizes. The scholarship is open to any college students majoring in architecture, civil engineering or structural engineering, construction management, material science or other approved engineering fields. The student can be full or part time, and enrolled in either an undergraduate or graduate degree program at any four year university in North America. For more information on the scholarship or to apply, please visit galvanizeit.org/scholarship.