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In 2021, AOE, in collaboration with the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Foundation, announced the establishment of the AOE Fellowship. This fellowship honors Wendy O. Ward, a valued member of the AOE team for more than ten years who tragically passed away at the young age of 32 from breast cancer. During her career, Wendy was known as an advocate for broadening career opportunities in the concrete industry.
As part of AOE's commitment to reinvesting in the markets we serve, this fellowship exemplifies our dedication to supporting the future of the concrete industry. The educational stipend is available to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a degree within the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program. In April, we announced that this year’s fellowship was awarded to Matthew Pasemann, a rising junior in the CIM program at Texas State University.
Matthew chose the CIM program at Texas State because of its unique curriculum that covers all aspects of the concrete industry, aligning perfectly with his interest in concrete and construction. “Additionally, the CIM program offers remarkable networking opportunities for students, such as conference travel, which aren't typically available in other majors,” said Matthew. “During my time in the CIM program, I’ve had the opportunity to attend numerous industry events and association conventions, including the American Concrete Institute’s (ACI) Spring 2023 Convention in San Francisco, Ca., Fall 2023 Convention in Boston, Mass., Spring 2024 Convention in New Orleans, La. and NRMCA’s Spring 2024 Convention in Tampa, Fla. These experiences in professional environments help me learn how to network with industry leaders, creating essential connections for building my career.”
Currently working as a summer intern for Baker Construction, Matthew notes that opportunities like this prepare him for working in the "real world” after graduation.
What is Matthew’s advice to current and future CIM students? “Take full advantage of everything the CIM program offers,” says Matthew. “The numerous opportunities for travel and scholarships provide the flexibility to explore different internships and career paths.”
We are thrilled to have Matthew as the very first recipient of the AOE Fellowship. In addition, we are happy to announce that as of July 1, the 2025-2026 fellowship application cycle has officially opened. Apply today!