22223 7th Avenue South | Des Moines, WA 98198
Phone: 206.878.1622 | Fax: 206.878.6282
September 3, 2015
Dear WA State High Schools & Students,
We are pleased to announce our WA State industry’s annual Essay Contest for Washington Students in cooperation
with our National Industry Association, NRMCA.
Our National Ready Mix Concrete Association (NRMCA) conducts an annual National High School Essay contest for
High School students and awards scholarships for post high school education. We are asking the assistance of High
School Guidance Counselors to help communicate this scholarship opportunity to your eligible WA High Schools
Students.
Congratulations to Savannah Forbes of Kamiakin High School in Kennewick, WA. She was selected as our
Washington State winner and ultimately took first place as the National Essay Winner for 2014.
The Rules:

The Essay Contest is open to all high school students ages 16-18 at the beginning of the 15-16 school term.

An entry form (enclosed) must be included with all essays and returned to the Washington Aggregates & Concrete
Association. Our state Association will determine a winning state essay and will advance that essay to the National
competition to represent Washington State. Our Association will award the winning state essay author a local
scholarship award of $500. Students should submit their essay to our Association No later than December 1st
2015 ( or postmarked by December 1st 2015)

Entries must be typed, double spaced, and NOT to exceed 600 words.

Essays will be judged on content and writing ability (grammar, style, clarity, and creativity). Possible themes
include concrete’s benefit to society; how concrete affects the environment; and using concrete to build homes,
commercial building, bridges or roads. Essays should demonstrate a student’s awareness of concrete’s role as a
building material in homes, commercial buildings, streets and highways.

We acknowledge there are many resources available to students however, the submitted essay MUST be a
product of the students own work and an original composition.
Suggested themes for students to consider include:

Imagine if Portland Cement Ready Mix Concrete was invented today. How would Portland Cement Ready Mix
Concrete affect the way we build, live, and change the future of our society?

There are many attributes of Portland Cement Ready Mix Concrete that contribute towards achieving “Building
Green” and “Sustainable or “LEED” Development. If you were going to start your own city, how would you use
Ready Mix concrete to build your city to be a very Green and Sustainable model for others to follow? Describe
how Portland Cement Ready Mix Concrete would contribute to each of your environmental objectives and its
advantages over other building materials. Visit www.concretethinker.com for ideas.

“Concrete” was first used by the Romans. How has the contribution and use of Portland Cement Ready Mix
Concrete Construction changed our world and contributed to our quality of life?

In WA state, Ready Mix Concrete has a played a prominent role in Transportation, Hydro-Electric power and
Waterway management. Identify one or more “Legacy Projects” that have shaped the future of Washington state
by using Ready mixed concrete, what role did Ready Mix Concrete have in your Legacy project and what benefits
did WA state realize as a result? Hint: National Interstate Highway system (1950’s), FDR’s “New Deal” and Public
Works Administration (1930’s).

OPEN ESSAY SUBJECT: The student may select a topic that communicates the significance, unique attributes,
and environmental contribution of Portland Cement Ready Mixed Concrete to any subject area of their choice. BE
CREATIVE!!!!
*** Note: A review of the beginnings, historical and contemporary use of Portland Cement Ready Mix Concrete
and its unique constructability features may provide good background or initial research for the student’s Essay
topic. A good online resource providing a general overview of the use of Portland Cement Ready Mix Concrete as
a primary construction material and quantifies Sustainable and Environmental attributes can be found at
www.concretethinker.com
Scholarship Award Overview:
The National NRMCA winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship if they enroll for their freshman year in a concreterelated curriculum such as: Concrete Industry Management offered at Middle Tennessee State University in
Murfreesboro, California State University at Chico, Arizona State University in Phoenix and Texas State University in
San Marco. Other eligible programs include those at Alpena College in Michigan or Rhodes State College in Ohio, or
other majors directly related to the concrete industry, such as; construction materials science/engineering.
Should the winner not choose to enroll in a concrete-related curriculum, he or she will receive a $2,000 scholarship for
the freshman year at the college of his or her choice. All state entries will receive a certificate of appreciation for
entering the contest along with a notification of the winner.
Entries are judged by an independent and impartial panel of industry executives and college faculty members as
selected by NRMCA. Judges will not be made aware of the name or home state of the contestant.
NRMCA reserves the right to publish the winning entry in whole or in part and will become the property of NRMCA.
The NRMCA will publish the winning essay in their Association periodicals, internet web page (www.nrmca.org) and
other industry periodicals.
Essays should be postmarked by Tuesday, December 1st 2015 and mailed to:
Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association
22223 7th Avenue South
Des Moines WA, 98198-6221
Please mark “Essay Submittal” on the outside of the envelope.
Entries can also be scanned and emailed to nblase@washingtonconcrete.org.
Entry Submittals should be neat and cleanly presented in a suitable presentation folder. Should the student wish to
include pictures or other digital medium along with their submittal, we suggest they be well presented and within the
context and scope of their essay.
For more information, please contact our Association office at (206) 878-1622 or by email at
nblase@washingtonconcrete.org or bchattin@washingtonconcrete.org.
The Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association is pleased to participate in a scholarship program to promote
awareness of the use and contribution of ready mixed concrete as a significant building material to help shape the
world around us and to provide this opportunity to enhance the educational future and experiences of our Washington
State high school students.
Best wishes to our Washington State High School Students!
Thank you,
Nikki Blase,
Member Services Director
WA Aggregates & Concrete Association
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
High School Essay Contest Entry Form
Entry Date:
Student Name:
Parent or Guardian's Name:
Street Address:
City, State, Zip:
Home Phone:
Email Address:
Student's Birth Date:
(Must be 16-18 yrs old at the beginning of the 15-16 school year)
School Presently Attending:
School Contact:
(Please list the name & phone number of a teacher or school official familiar with the student)
I have read the rules of the 2015-2016 National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Essay Contest
and agree to abide by them:
Student Signature
Date
I have read the rules of the 2015-2016 National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Essay Contest
and agree to abide by them:
Parent or Guardian signature
Date
Please return essay and entry form to: (WACA - 22223 7th Ave. South, Des Moines, WA 98198)
ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY: Saturday, December 1st, 2015