ACPA Awards Weatherton Scholarships

Among the highlights of 2020 for the American Concrete Pumping Association was awarding the first Bob Weatherton Scholarships to two inspiring students. The scholarship is named in honor of the late “Big Bob” Weatherton of The Concrete Pump Store in California, who passed in 2016. Bob 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 seeks to recognize the same leadership and spirit that Bob 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.

In its inaugural year, the scholarship drew many highly qualified and diverse candidates. Evaluations were completed separately by each judge, 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.

The ACPA is proud to announce Jesse Odom and Lauren Bone as co-recipients of the first Bob Weatherton Scholarship.

Jesse Odom

Since his elementary school days, Jesse Odom knew he wanted a career in building the great structures across the United States, like the ones he saw on family road trips. Today, Jesse is a sophomore studying construction management at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

“Throughout his time at Lamar, Jesse has consistently demonstrated a level of common sense, academic intelligence and enthusiasm that sets him apart from his peers,” says Jeff Dyson, instructor of management at Lamar University. “He has a strong work ethic and excellent leadership and communication skills.”

At Lamar University, Jesse 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.

“Having experience as a member of a volunteer fire department, I have also been able to become a voice and a leader in my community,” says Odom. “I have deeply enjoyed my time with both the CMSA and the fire department, as I am able to give back to my community.”

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

Having grown up in the concrete pumping industry, Lauren Bone has had a fascination for construction projects from an early age. A love of construction machinery and the tasks it accomplishes, 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.

“School gave me the knowledge I needed to become an engineer, but it was in the sports I played and my extra-curricular activities that I learned the attributes to be a successful engineer—scan the field, read the player’s next move and understand how critical it is to work as a team.”

Lauren developed other important life skills during her high school career. By serving on the leadership team at her high school, Lauren learned the importance of planning and working together to complete tasks while not being afraid to take on new roles or be put in new situations.

When pointing out Lauren’s strengths, her high school science teacher notes her bright intellect, an impressive drive to succeed and achieve her goals, compassion and willingness to help others, maturity beyond her years, and the ability to challenge herself to always excel at whatever she does.

“It was a privilege and honor to be nominated and selected for this award,” says Lauren. “I am truly thankful to 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.”

Congratulations to Jesse Odom and Lauren Bone, two well-deserving young people with bright futures—building the structures that build America.