Each year, the Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association invests in the next generation of Indiana's concrete and construction workforce through the IRMCA Scholarship Program. Funded by the annual IRMCA Fore Scholars Golf Outing, the scholarship supports Indiana college students pursuing education and careers connected to concrete, construction, and engineering.
For 2026, IRMCA is proud to recognize two Purdue University Northwest students: Frank Nicksic and Izat Hamed.
Both are seniors in the Class of 2027 pursuing Construction Management related degrees. Frank and Izat are already gaining hands on experience within the concrete industry but each took a different path to discover where a career in construction and concrete could lead.
Frank Nicksic is a senior at Purdue University Northwest studying Construction Management Engineering Technology.
When Frank learned he had been selected for a 2026 IRMCA Scholarship, the news took a moment to sink in.
“When I first saw the email, I honestly had to read it twice to make sure it was real. I was excited to bring some good news home to my parents, followed by relief knowing that the work I had put in was producing a tangible result.”
Frank learned about the scholarship through one of his role models, who believed strongly enough in Frank's potential to encourage him to apply. That encouragement came at an important point in his college career. Frank had largely given up on receiving a scholarship, but someone else's confidence in him motivated him to try again.
That willingness to keep learning and challenging himself has also shaped Frank's approach to the construction industry.
During his freshman year, Frank decided he wanted to experience a different part of construction each summer. His goal was to build a broader understanding of the industry while discovering which area interested him most. His first two summer internships introduced him to industrial and healthcare construction.
Then he decided to explore concrete. Here, he found something different.
“The concrete world has felt like home to me more than any other branch of the industry has thus far, and I am excited to see what the future holds.”
Frank has gained experience with Ozinga Ready Mix, including work in the Quality Control department, where he has been able to experience the technical side of ready mixed concrete firsthand. He is also interested in eventually transitioning into concrete sales.
His experience demonstrates just how many different career paths exist within concrete. From quality control and production to sales, engineering, operations, safety, and project management, the industry offers opportunities for students with a wide range of interests and skills.
Students interested in exploring those possibilities can learn more through IRMCA Careers in Concrete.
He is particularly enthusiastic about the opportunity for construction students to combine employment with their education. Working during college gives students an opportunity to take concepts discussed in class and see how they function in real construction environments.
That connection between technical knowledge and field experience is particularly important in concrete, where factors such as materials, mix design, placement conditions, testing, and curing can all influence performance.
For a deeper look at some of those variables, explore Why Two Concrete Projects Perform Differently.
Frank is also interested in how the concrete industry will continue evolving, particularly around sustainability.
“I think sustainability is one of the areas where much of the growth in the concrete industry will occur in the coming years. Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world, so making it more environmentally friendly can have a real impact.”
He points to developments including lower carbon concrete, recycled aggregates, and supplementary cementitious materials as areas he is interested in watching as the industry evolves.
For now, Frank's goal is straightforward: Continue learning, get his foot in the door, and find a career that challenges him to grow both professionally and personally.
Fellow Purdue University Northwest senior Izat Hamed is also building his future through a combination of Construction Management education and hands on industry experience. However, Izat's path began well before college.
Although he was born in Munster, Indiana, Izat spent much of his childhood in Silwad, Palestine. His family returned to Highland, Indiana, in 2012, and Izat had to learn English from scratch. He credits that experience with teaching him how to adapt, work through challenges, and continue learning.
Construction was already familiar territory. Growing up, Izat enjoyed watching his father fix things around the house and helping whenever he could. He also found himself drawn to videos about architecture, interior design, and construction.
Still, when he arrived at Purdue Northwest, he hadn't settled on a career.
Izat entered college undecided. He knew about Civil Engineering but wasn't sure it matched what he wanted from a career.
That changed during his first semester when a presentation in one of his First Year Experience classes introduced him to Purdue Northwest's Construction Management program.
“As they explained the different aspects of the degree and the career opportunities available in construction, I realized it matched the interests I had growing up.”
He changed his major the following semester and has been pursuing Construction Management ever since.
His coursework has allowed him to explore surveying, AutoCAD, Revit, design, modeling, and other parts of the construction process. Hands-on assignments have also helped him understand how the different pieces of a project come together long before construction begins.
Izat's initial introduction to the concrete industry came through Smith Ready Mix. He joined the IRMCA Producer Member as a summer intern and has continued working part time while attending Purdue Northwest.
The experience has allowed him to take concepts from the classroom and apply them directly to ready mixed concrete.
“I learned how different materials and chemical admixtures can affect a concrete mix and how testing things like slump and air content helps make sure the concrete meets the requirements for the job.”
Izat also gained exposure to different concrete mix designs and the decisions that happen behind the scenes before concrete arrives at a project.
One particular experience stood out: Creating his own concrete mix design.
With guidance from managers at Smith Ready Mix, Izat developed a mix with the goal of achieving a strong 28 day cylinder break. He was able to make decisions about the materials going into the mix and then observe how those decisions influenced its performance.
“Experiences like this have shown me how I can combine my Construction Management education with hands on knowledge of concrete.”
Understanding the relationship between concrete materials, specifications, testing, and performance is an important part of the industry. Learn more about the framework producers work within in Indiana Ready Mix Concrete Standards: ACI, ASTM & NRMCA.
“You don't need to come into the program already knowing everything about construction.”
Instead, he encourages students who are genuinely interested in construction to be willing to learn, ask questions, and work through challenges.
Receiving the 2026 IRMCA Scholarship gives Izat additional support as he continues that process.
“When I first heard that I had received the IRMCA Scholarship, I was honestly shocked and really excited because I wasn't expecting to win. Receiving the scholarship means a lot to me, and the financial support will definitely help me with my upcoming semesters.”
For Izat, the recognition is especially meaningful because he is already working in the industry the scholarship was created to support.
Frank and Izat did not arrive at concrete in exactly the same way.
Frank intentionally explored different areas of construction until his experience in concrete felt like home.
Izat discovered Construction Management after entering college undecided, then found an opportunity to explore ready mixed concrete through his work with Smith Ready Mix.
Their experiences demonstrate something important about the future of the concrete workforce: There isn't one path into the industry.
Students can arrive through engineering, construction management, internships, quality control, field experience, production, sales, technology, or simply an opportunity that introduces them to a career they hadn't previously considered.
Once they're here, the technical depth of concrete provides plenty more to discover. From materials and specifications to design and field performance, Engineering Perspectives on Ready Mixed Concrete explores some of the knowledge and collaboration behind successful concrete projects.
Supporting the next generation of concrete professionals takes more than encouraging students to consider the industry. It requires creating opportunities for them.
The annual IRMCA Fore Scholars Golf Outing helps fund the IRMCA Scholarship Program, turning a day of golf, networking, sponsorships, and industry camaraderie into direct support for students like Frank and Izat.
IRMCA members, sponsors, golfers, and supporters who participate in Fore Scholars are helping students continue their education while encouraging them to explore careers within concrete and construction.
That makes every foursome, sponsorship, raffle contribution, and day on the course part of something bigger.
See that support in action by visiting the 2026 IRMCA Fore Scholars Golf Outing Photo Gallery.
IRMCA congratulates Frank Nicksic and Izat Hamed on being selected as our 2026 IRMCA Scholarship recipients.
Both students are already demonstrating the curiosity, willingness to learn, and hands on industry engagement that will help shape the next generation of concrete professionals.
We look forward to following their journeys as they complete their senior year at Purdue University Northwest and continue building their careers.
The next generation of Indiana's concrete industry is already taking shape in classrooms, internships, laboratories, batch plants, and jobsites across the state.
If you're pursuing a Construction, Engineering, or concrete-related degree and are interested in building a future in the industry, explore IRMCA Careers in Concrete and watch for future IRMCA Scholarship opportunities.
And to the IRMCA members and industry partners who make these scholarships possible through the Fore Scholars Golf Outing: Thank you for investing in the future of Indiana concrete!