American Concrete Pumping Association's 2020 Scholarship Recipients

The American Concrete Pumping Association (ACPA) announced Jesse Odom and Lauren Bone as co-recipients of the association’s first annual Bob Weatherton Scholarship. Odom is a sophomore at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, studying construction management. Bone is a freshman at the University of Colorado Boulder studying civil engineering.

The scholarship is named in honor of the late “Big Bob” Weatherton of The Concrete Pump Store in California. Weatherton served on the ACPA Board of Directors for more than 40 years and is remembered as one of the industry’s most avid champions.

Open to eligible members and their families, as well as to members’ employees and their families, the Bob Weatherton scholarship recognizes the potential for leadership and industry advancement that Weatherton exemplified throughout his career. Scholarships are for undergraduate, graduate and vocational students in fields related to concrete, concrete pumping, construction and engineering, construction management and administration, and vocational studies related to concrete pumps and trucks.

“We are proud to carry on Bob Weatherton’s legacy in the concrete pumping industry through a scholarship in his memory,” says Christi Collins, ACPA Executive Director. “Bob was a devoted member of the association and faithful advocate of concrete pumping. It is our privilege to honor two highly exceptional students among the many qualified and diverse candidates.”

Evaluations were completed separately by a panel of judges, who are members of the ACPA Scholarship Committee. Judges submitted their scores individually to an independent accounting firm to tabulate the results. The two individuals who were awarded the greatest number of points were announced as the winners.

Jesse Odom

Jesse Odom, American Concrete Pumping Association's 2020 Bob Weatherton Scholarship RecipientAmerican Concrete Pumping AssociationAt Lamar University, Odom is an active member of the Construction Management Student Association, which provides volunteer assistance to local businesses and the people of southeast Texas. His volunteer experience also includes the high-stress atmosphere of serving his local volunteer fire department.

During college, Odom’s internship with Bo-Mac Contractors in Beaumont, Texas, helped him realize he enjoys the preconstruction phase of projects. As such, Odom’s long-term plans are to become a scheduler/planner for a civil contractor in the industrial sector.

“I am very thankful for the American Concrete Pumping Association offering the Bob Weatherton Scholarship,” says Odom. “This scholarship will allow me to focus on my academic career even more now.”

Lauren Bone

Lauren Bone, American Concrete Pumping Association's 2020 Bob Weatherton Scholarship RecipientAmerican Concrete Pumping Association's 2020 Scholarship RecipientHaving grown up in the concrete pumping industry, Bone has had a love of construction machinery and the tasks it accomplishes from an early age. This, along with a proficiency in math and science, led Lauren to the University of Colorado Boulder, where she enrolled in the fall of 2020 to pursue a civil engineering degree.

“It is a privilege and honor to be selected for this award,” says Lauren. “I am truly thankful for the ACPA for recognizing and rewarding my hard work over the years. This makes me feel proud of all the work I have put in and confident in what I will achieve in the future.”

For more information about Bob Weatherton Scholarship, contact the ACPA National Office at 614-431-5618 or email [email protected].