2026 Scholarship winner Guadalupe Flores (center, with big check), stands with PDCA and PDCA Texas Chapter leadership
The PDCA Texas Chapter has concluded its second annual student scholarship program, continuing its commitment to supporting the next generation of construction professionals. Four students were selected to receive $2,500 scholarships for the 2026 program, helping them pursue higher education in construction-related disciplines and fields connected to the pile driving industry.
During the September 22nd Texas Chapter Golf Tournament, Scholarship Committee Director John Burns announced the recipients of the 2026 scholarship awards: Marco Linares Briceno, Rachel Glynn, Samuel Puente, and Guadalupe Flores. The Chapter determined that each of these students demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, and a clear interest in building a career connected to construction and engineering.
Beyond the financial assistance, the program provides an important connection between students and the professionals who make up the PDCA Texas Chapter. By investing in these emerging professionals, the Chapter is helping cultivate the knowledge, skills, and leadership needed to support the future of deep foundation construction. The Texas Chapter looks forward to following these four students as they continue their education and begin their careers.
Meet the students who earned the investment of the Texas pile driving community:
Marco Linares Briceno is a University of Houston mechanical engineering student with a 3.919 GPA and an impressive record of academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement. A four-time Dean's List honoree and two-time IHCH Scholarship recipient, he is an active member of ASCE and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. During his internship with Flexicore of Texas, Marco gained hands-on experience in precast concrete production, quality control, mix design, material testing, and structural applications. His experience strengthened his understanding of driven pile manufacturing and foundation materials. Fluent in English and Spanish, Marco hopes to apply his engineering knowledge to advancing safer, more efficient pile driving practices.
Rachel Glynn is an honors civil engineering student at The University of Alabama, pursuing a minor in Environmental & Water Resources Engineering with a 3.67 GPA. A former varsity basketball and cross-country team captain, Rachel has demonstrated strong leadership, teamwork, and commitment to excellence. Her professional experience includes internships with CPS Houston and ExxonMobil's Mont Belvieu Plastics Plant, where she gained exposure to engineering, quality control, safety, and industrial operations. Active in the Society of Women Engineers and Alpha Omega Epsilon, she has also served her community through Habitat for Humanity, the Houston Food Bank, and youth programs. Rachel hopes to contribute to innovative, sustainable foundation and infrastructure solutions.
Samuel Puente is a civil engineering student at Texas A&M University with a strong commitment to construction, leadership, and community service. As Membership Chair for the university's LULAC chapter, he recruits members, organizes events, and supports advocacy and education initiatives. He is also active in ASCE and SHPE and has volunteered through The Big Event and other community efforts. Samuel has earned multiple scholarships, including recognition from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and Texas A&M College of Engineering. His internships with McCarthy Building Companies provided hands-on experience in marine estimating, pile driving, field operations, project coordination, and crane load calculations.
Guadalupe Flores is a Construction Management student at Sam Houston State University who is passionate about building a safer, stronger, and more inclusive construction industry. Her experience includes leading a student project that developed an ongoing partnership with Christmas Village, giving classmates opportunities to design and construct real-world projects. Active in the Sam Houston Construction Association, Guadalupe also advocates for the industry through a construction-focused social media platform that shares career advice, scholarships, jobsite experiences, and resources. An AGC Education and Research Foundation Scholarship recipient, she hopes to begin her career in the field, become a superintendent, and help bridge experienced industry knowledge with new ideas and perspectives.
