May 21, 2025
High school and college students seeking financial assistance to offset high costs for post-secondary education may qualify to apply for scholarships from two PDCA Chapters. The
PDCA Pacific Coast Chapter and the
PDCA Texas Chapter each offer scholarship awards to students who are pursuing educational programs geared toward eventual careers in the construction industry. Such programs could be through universities, technical colleges or vocational schools and they must prepare students in curricula such as construction management, engineering, occupational safety, accounting or similar lines of study. Both scholarship programs are independently administered through the respective Chapters and some applicant rules and restrictions may be slightly different. Make sure you read through the scholarship materials from each Chapter, found in the links below. If you have, or know of a student from Texas or from the Western U.S. who is interested in an eventual career in the deep foundation construction industry, consider sharing the following scholarship opportunities from PDCA Chapters with them:
Pacific Coast Chapter Scholarship
Important details on the Pacific Coast Chapter scholarship program:
- Scholarship Amount $1,000
- Scholarship is for academic year beginning Fall 2025
- Scholarship Applications due by July 1, 2025
- PDCA Scholarships will be awarded in August, 2025
Texas Chapter Scholarship
Important details on the Texas Chapter Scholarship program:
- Four Awards available
- Each scholarship is $2,500
- Scholarship applications due by August 1, 2025
- Awards announced during September 2025 Chapter Golf Tournament
Posted in Chapter News Pacific Coast, Chapter News Texas.
April 29, 2025
Each April, members and friends of the PDCA Pacific Coast Chapter make the trek to Birds Landing Hunting Preserve, a rural location between Oakland and Sacramento, CA. And each April, that group demonstrates its sincere desire to assist young people chart their futures, while at the same time, it takes decisive action to grow a talent pool of future constructors. This is the model for the annual PDCA Pacific Coast Chapter Scholarship Shoot, an event that raises money to help students pursue higher education, particularly those who are studying a construction management, engineering or a related curriculum.
The 2025 edition of the Scholarship Shoot, notably it's 14th consecutive year, delivered on its promise to build funds that will award students pursuing construction careers. Attendees pay a registration fee and have options to sponsor the event and participate in a raffle featuring a highly desireable collection of donated prizes.
More than 100 registrants arrive at Birds Landing for the early start. Following a presentation on course rules and safety, the shooting teams embarked on path to various shooting stations where they tested their marksmanship.
Once all teams finished the course, participants gathered back at Birds Landing patio where a lunch and program would take place. During the program, PDCA President Buck Darling, who traveled from Buffalo, NY to attend (and compete), addressed the group, updated the audience on upcoming PDCA events, and thanked them for supporting the organization. He also shared that Dermot Fallon, the PDCA Pacific Coast Chapter President, had earned the PDCA Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year. (Fallon and Darling are pictured).
Also making the trip to Northern California was PDCA Executive Director Frank Peters, who also gave brief comments to the Scholarship Shoot attendees. He stressed the value to both the member and the organization that is realized when members participate in PDCA programs and attend events.
Chapter President Dermot Fallon then conducted the awards and recognitions portion of the program.
The Chapter thanks all attendees who participated in the shoot, as well as those who opted to only attend the lunch and raffle. Those who generously donated for raffle prizes included CS Marine Constructors, PILECO, Manson Construction Company, SGH-Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, and PDCA. Additionally, the following companies supported the scholarship fund through Shooting Station sponsorships: Nucor Skyline, Independent Pipe, Oldcastle Infrastructure, Northern California Carpenters Union, PJ's Rebar, Inc., and Anvil Builders.
The event concluded with a luncheon feast, along with the presentation of awards for the shooting competition and the raffle. Chapter President Dermot Fallon thanked the PDCA Pacific Coast Chapter team who helped organize the annual event, those included Treasurer Mark Weisz and Board Members Tommy Haupt, Matt Lehmann, Darren Riddle, Doug Ollis, Jeff Arkin, and Ryan Turner.
Watch your inbox for an announcement coming soon to signify the opening of the entry period for 2025 Chapter Scholarships.
See who was SPOTTED at the Scholarship Shoot:
Posted in Chapter News Pacific Coast.
March 17, 2025
The month of April brings a variety of learning, networking, and competitive events to PDCA Chapters.
Gulf Golf, April 4th
If golf is your your game, don't miss the
PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter Golf Tournament, happening April 4th at the Carter Plantation Golf Club, near Springfield, LA. The four-person scramble begins at 8:00 AM with registration and breakfast, tournament play starts at 9:00 AM. Proceeds from registrations and sponsorship benefit future Chapter programming and the Chapter's scholarship fund. The event concludes with an onsite lunch and Chapter business meeting. To reserve a spot for yourself, your twosome or your foursome, click the button below to Register.
Lone Star Learning, April 22nd
Are you looking for further education on the manufacturing and distribution processes of steel piling? Consider attending the
PDCA Texas Chapter Lunch & Learn on April 22nd at Eagle Point Golf Club in Mont Belvieu, TX. The professional development opportunity begins at 10:30 AM with a welcome speech and buffet lunch. Shortly thereafter, you will hear two separate presentations on steel piling by subject matter experts from
CPS Houston and
JD Fields & Co. Once the program finishes, Texas Chapter leaders will update attendees on events and initiatives the organization is pursuing in 2025. Lunch & Learn proceedings will conclude at 1:30 PM, at which time there is space reserved for attendees to play an optional round of golf. The deadline to register for the optional golf portion of this event is April 17th. For more details and registration, click below:
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Collecting in Cali, April 25th
To finish out the month, you can support the next generation of foundation professionals while you kill some birds in California. The
Pacific Coast Chapter Scholarship Shoot happens on April 25th at Birds Landing Hunting Preserve. Shooters will arrive at the course for 8:00 am registration and breakfast. Raffle ticket sales will be available at this time as well. The shooting competition begins at 9:00 and is expected to last four hours. Once all shooters have finished the course, attendees will gather for lunch, prizes, a live auction, and a Chapter update. Proceeds from the Scholarship Shoot support Chapter programming and the annual scholarship awards to regional students pursuing engineering and construction education. To learn more and to register for this event, now in its 14th year, click the button below:
Posted in Chapter News Gulf Coast, Chapter News Pacific Coast, Chapter News Texas.
