The National Corrugated Steel Pipe Association (NCSPA) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Scholarship Program. This year’s scholarship winners represent the next generation of engineers and infrastructure professionals, bringing fresh ideas, diverse experiences, and a shared passion for building stronger, safer communities.
Awarded annually, the NCSPA Scholarship Program recognizes outstanding undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in civil engineering, construction, land surveying, and related fields. Through these scholarships, the association continues its commitment to investing in the future of the infrastructure industry while encouraging innovation, leadership, and academic excellence.
This year’s recipients impressed the scholarship committee not only with their academic achievements, but also with their vision for improving the world through infrastructure. From advancing sustainable structural design and stormwater management to improving public works and seismic resilience, each student is already thinking beyond the classroom.
Congratulations to our 2026 scholarship recipients:
- Donald L. Bibey Memorial Scholarship: Emma Le Coz, University of California, Berkeley
- Doyle F. Johnson Memorial Scholarship: Alison Wayman, University of St. Thomas
- Robert E. Hall Memorial Scholarship: April Baumgarten, Texas State University
- W.A. “Dub” Ross Scholarship (Inaugural Recipient): Bryan I.A. Lagunas, Virginia Tech
Meet the 2026 Scholarship Winners
Behind every scholarship application is a unique story. We had the opportunity to learn more about each recipient’s career goals, what inspired them to pursue engineering, and how they hope to make a lasting impact on the communities they will one day serve. Their responses reflect the curiosity, determination, and passion that will shape the future of infrastructure.
Donald L. Bibey Memorial Scholarship
Emma Le Coz
University of California, Berkeley
For Emma Le Coz, engineering has always been about creating meaningful change. As a structural engineering student at the University of California, Berkeley, she hopes to combine technical excellence with sustainable design practices that improve communities for generations to come.
Her long-term goal is to become a structural engineer working on projects that reduce embodied carbon, embrace adaptive reuse, and leave a lasting positive impact on the built environment. After graduation, she plans to begin her career at a structural engineering firm while remaining active in professional organizations like the NCSPA to help shape the future of the industry.
Receiving the Donald L. Bibey Memorial Scholarship was especially meaningful because it allowed Emma to reflect on the events that first inspired her interest in resilient infrastructure.
“Thinking back to Hurricane Harvey and the devastating floods that followed reminded me how critical infrastructure can be during times of crisis,” she explained. “Learning about corrugated steel pipe through this scholarship process gave me a new appreciation for how these systems contribute to protecting communities.”
Before applying, Emma had little familiarity with corrugated steel pipe systems. Through researching the scholarship essay, however, she discovered the engineering principles behind soil-structure interaction and the collaborative nature of designing buried infrastructure.
“I especially enjoyed learning about the interaction between the pipe and surrounding soil,” she said. “It reinforced how interdisciplinary engineering can be and how important collaboration is in developing effective infrastructure solutions.”
Looking toward the future, Emma is particularly interested in making earthquake-resistant design more affordable and accessible around the world.
“Many advanced seismic technologies exist today, but they aren’t always practical or affordable for widespread use,” she said. “I’d like to help develop solutions that make resilient infrastructure available to more communities while also improving public understanding of earthquake risks.”
Outside the classroom, Emma enjoys spending time outdoors hiking in places like Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe. She also enjoys sewing, describing it as a creative outlet that allows her to work with her hands while balancing the demands of engineering school.
When asked what advice she would give future engineering students, her response reflected both optimism and experience.
“Give it a try,” she said. “Engineering offers so many different paths that there’s truly something for everyone. Find what you’re passionate about, and don’t be afraid to explore. There’s nothing quite like seeing a project you helped design become something people use every day.”
For Emma, engineering can ultimately be summed up in a single sentence:
“Engineering means challenging my brain to solve complex problems creatively and building solutions that impact people.”
Doyle F. Johnson Memorial Scholarship
Alison Wayman
University of St. Thomas
Alison Wayman sees engineering as an opportunity to improve one of our planet’s most valuable resources: water.
Currently pursuing a degree in civil engineering at the University of St. Thomas, Alison hopes to build a career focused on water treatment and stormwater management, developing systems that make water more sustainable and easier to recycle for future generations.
Receiving the Doyle F. Johnson Memorial Scholarship introduced her to an entirely new side of infrastructure.
“I was inspired to apply because I wanted to learn more about corrugated steel pipe and stormwater management,” Alison said. “Before this process, I knew very little about corrugated steel pipe. Now I’m fascinated by the many different ways these systems can be applied.”
Her passion extends beyond simply designing infrastructure. Alison wants to create environmentally responsible water management systems that improve both sustainability and long-term resource conservation.
“Water is one of our most important resources,” she explained. “I’d like to help create management plans that make water more recyclable and more sustainable for future communities.”
Throughout her engineering education, Alison has learned that success isn’t achieved alone. Building relationships has become one of the most valuable lessons she’s taken from college.
“Engineering is challenging,” she said. “The friends I’ve made and the community I’ve built have made all the difference. My advice is to find your people because having that support makes even the hardest challenges manageable.”
Outside of academics, Alison enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, camping, biking, and skiing, activities that further reinforce her appreciation for the natural environments she hopes to help protect through her future career.
When asked to describe engineering in a single sentence, Alison’s answer perfectly captures her motivation:
“Engineering means applying what I learn in the classroom to making the world a better place.”
Robert E. Hall Memorial Scholarship
April Baumgarten
Texas State University
For April Baumgarten, infrastructure isn’t just something she studies, it’s something she works with every day.
As the Public Works Administrator for the City of Laguna Woods, California, April has firsthand experience managing projects that directly impact her community. From sidewalks and drainage systems to traffic signals, accessibility improvements, streets, and parks, she understands that successful infrastructure requires thoughtful planning long before construction begins.
Her goal after graduation is to continue building both her technical expertise and her leadership skills, allowing her to guide public infrastructure projects from initial planning through construction and long-term maintenance.
“Public infrastructure isn’t theoretical for me,” April explained. “I see every day how decisions made during design, bidding, construction, and maintenance affect real people in the community. Receiving this scholarship feels like recognition not only of my academic work, but also of the experience I’ve gained working in the field.”
April discovered the NCSPA Scholarship while searching online for scholarships related to construction management and infrastructure, and she immediately recognized the connection between the program and her professional career.
“I’m so glad I found it,” she said. “It stood out because it was directly connected to the kind of infrastructure work I care about.”
One of the greatest challenges she hopes to address throughout her career is helping public agencies maximize limited infrastructure budgets without sacrificing long-term performance.
“Cities don’t have unlimited funding,” April said. “Every decision has to balance safety, accessibility, constructability, maintenance, useful life, and how the public will actually experience the finished project. A project is only truly successful if it continues serving the community long after the ribbon cutting.”
Although she had previously encountered corrugated steel pipe through her public works experience, the scholarship process deepened her appreciation for the role material selection plays in successful infrastructure projects.
“Pipe may not be something most people think about,” she said, “but when it’s part of a roadway, drainage system, or other public improvement, it has to perform reliably for decades. This experience reminded me that the most important parts of infrastructure are often the ones people never see.”
For students considering engineering or construction careers, April encourages getting out of the classroom whenever possible.
“Ask questions. Walk job sites. Read construction plans. Learn from the people doing the work every day,” she advised. “The technical knowledge is important, but understanding how projects are actually delivered is equally valuable.”
Outside of work and school, April enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, writing, learning new skills, and taking on creative projects whenever life slows down.
Her definition of engineering reflects the practical mindset that guides both her career and education.
“Engineering means creating practical, reliable solutions that help communities function safely and better every day.”
W.A. “Dub” Ross Scholarship
Bryan I.A. Lagunas
Virginia Tech
As the inaugural recipient of the W.A. “Dub” Ross Scholarship, Bryan I.A. Lagunas is already setting ambitious goals for the future.
Currently studying civil engineering at Virginia Tech, Bryan plans to continue his education by earning a master’s degree in Civil Engineering at Stanford University before pursuing both his Professional Engineer (PE) and Structural Engineer (SE) licenses. Ultimately, he hopes to build a career in San Francisco designing resilient structures capable of withstanding seismic events.
His passion for engineering extends beyond designing buildings. Bryan hopes to help reshape how steel structures are designed for sustainability, particularly as demand continues to grow for facilities like data centers.
“Growing up in Northern Virginia, I’ve watched data centers rapidly transform the landscape,” Bryan said. “I want to use my education to design steel structures that are more sustainable, more efficient, and better prepared for the future.”
Receiving the first-ever W.A. “Dub” Ross Scholarship carries special significance.
“I really admire organizations that create opportunities for learning,” Bryan explained. “The NCSPA does that through its educational outreach and college presentations. Winning this scholarship has inspired me to pay that forward by creating opportunities for others to learn throughout my own career.”
Before applying, Bryan had very little exposure to corrugated steel pipe during his undergraduate coursework. The scholarship process opened the door to an entirely new area of engineering.
“Learning about corrugated steel pipe made me curious about how these systems could intersect with structural and seismic engineering,” he said. “It encouraged me to think beyond the traditional structural applications I’d been studying.”
Bryan’s advice for future engineering students is both simple and inspiring.
“Always bet on yourself,” he said. “Do the hard things and never accept ‘no’ as the final answer. My success has been possible because of incredible professors, mentors, and classmates who believed in me, and I truly believe anyone can succeed when they’re surrounded by people who support them.”
Outside the classroom, Bryan enjoys reading science fiction novels, hiking, trying spicy foods, and playing FIFA.
His one-sentence definition of engineering reflects both his technical ambitions and his commitment to serving others.
“Engineering is about being an advocate and uplifting your peers by designing public infrastructure.”
Investing in Tomorrow’s Infrastructure Leaders
The future of infrastructure depends on innovative thinkers who are willing to tackle today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s needs. This year’s scholarship recipients exemplify that vision through their dedication to sustainable design, resilient infrastructure, public service, water resource management, and engineering excellence.
The NCSPA Scholarship Program exists to encourage students like Emma, Alison, April, and Bryan as they prepare to become the next generation of engineers, designers, and infrastructure professionals. Their passion, curiosity, and commitment to improving communities serve as a reminder that the future of our industry is in capable hands.
Congratulations once again to all four recipients. We look forward to following your careers and seeing the positive impact you’ll make on communities across the country.
Inspired to Follow in Their Footsteps?
The NCSPA Scholarship Program supports students who are passionate about engineering, construction, land surveying, and infrastructure. Whether your interests lie in structural design, transportation, stormwater management, or public works, an NCSPA scholarship can help you take the next step toward your future.
Robert E. Hall Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to undergraduate students pursuing a degree in civil engineering or a closely related field.
Donald L. Bibey Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing engineering or land surveying while supporting diversity within the profession.
Doyle F. Johnson Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing civil engineering with an interest in the corrugated steel pipe industry.
W.A. “Dub” Ross Scholarship
Established in 2026, this scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional promise, leadership, and a commitment to advancing the future of civil engineering and infrastructure.
Applications for the 2027 NCSPA Scholarship Program will open next year. We encourage eligible students to visit the NCSPA website to learn more about scholarship opportunities, eligibility requirements, and future application deadlines. Your engineering journey could be next.