Omar Palacios, a freshman studying concrete industry management at Texas State University, has been awarded the CarbonCure Sustainability in Concrete Scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year by CarbonCure Technologies.
This is the third year CarbonCure, in collaboration with the Concrete Industry Management Program, has provided the scholarship to support passionate future leaders. Palacios is among five students nationwide awarded the $2,000 scholarship.
Palacios aspires to become a leading project manager, blending his interests in fine arts and concrete and integrating creativity and sustainability within the industry. In the near term, he champions the use of LC3 and CO2 injection systems to reduce emissions and advocates for optimized resource use.
“Recycling and using alternative materials can help phase out traditional concrete practices,” Palacios said. “My passion for architecture and design drives me to optimize resource use and minimize emissions by applying cutting-edge structural designs that maintain the integrity of buildings while reducing excess resource consumption.”
The winning students’ scholarship essays explored opportunities to improve concrete’s sustainability and detailed their personal dedication to a greener future in the industry.
As CIM Program students, these aspiring concrete leaders are developing essential skills to succeed in the construction sector as well as strategies to spearhead innovation and more environmentally friendly manufacturing.
“At CarbonCure, we’re dedicated to fostering the next wave of concrete industry leaders, particularly those passionate about sustainability,” Carbon-Cure CEO Rob Niven said. “We’re thrilled to invest in these innovators. By mid-century, they will undoubtedly be leading the charge, driving the industry toward net-zero emissions.”
Scholarship applicants noted that the strong demand for lower-carbon building materials is among the factors motivating concrete producers to adopt innovative techniques and technologies, such as CarbonCure, to reduce carbon emissions and boost their businesses. In turn, these future concrete professionals say they are also motivated to work for companies that lead the charge on sustainability.
