WADSWORTH, Ohio — SOPREMA® Inc., a leader in the roofing, waterproofing, wall protection and civil engineering waterproofing industries, has selected four outstanding students to receive scholarships to pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees in a building envelope field. Each of the 2020–2021 recipients received $5,000 to cover school expenses in the coming academic year.

“SOPREMA is proud to award these scholarships, especially as we celebrate the fifth anniversary of our scholarship program,” said Jennifer Kramer, SOPREMA’s senior content strategist and the scholarship program manager. “By presenting scholarships to these deserving students, we’re continuing the investment in the next generation and pledging our commitment to the sustained success and growth of the industry.”

The SOPREMA Scholarship assists students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture, engineering, construction management or similar building envelope fields at accredited four-year colleges or universities. Scholarship winners are selected based on academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience, an essay and an online recommendation. Financial need is not considered.

Demand for the SOPREMA scholarship grew exponentially this year.

“We adjusted our marketing and outreach to help attract more applicants, and we saw earlier and greater interest from across the U.S.,” Kramer said. “Application submissions grew by nearly 7,000 percent this year! We had applicants from all 50 states, which is the first time we’ve seen this since the start of our program in 2016.”

SOPREMA 2020-2021 Scholarship Recipients

• Dudley Moore of Tuscaloosa, Ala., is a graduate student at the University of Alabama studying mechanical engineering who will graduate in December 2021. A McNair Research Scholar and National Society of Black Engineers Volunteer of the Year recipient, Moore completed his third internship this summer as a heat transfer associate for Solar Turbines. He wants to develop energy solutions to address the demands of growing populations.

• Alex Sewell of Salisbury, Md., is a freshman at the University of Maryland (UMD): School of Engineering and Honors College who is studying mechanical engineering. He will graduate in May 2024. He was active in the “Project Lead the Way Engineering Advanced Placement Program” in high school and received the UMD Banneker / Key Scholar Award, Regan Leadership Medal. He is already a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers.

• Rhett Tinklenberg of Harrisburg, S.D., is a sophomore studying construction management at the South Dakota State University Fishback Honors College. He will graduate in May 2023. He serves as the secretary of the Construction Management Club and vice president of finance of the South Dakota Alpha chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He works for a custom home builder in Sioux Falls and looks forward to constructing new buildings with new technology and innovative materials.

• William Welch of Burbank, Calif., is a senior at the University of California – Los Angeles studying mechanical engineering. He will graduate in June 2021. A Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society inductee, Welch earned second-place honors at the 2020 Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. He’s also a UCLA Northrop Grumman award recipient who wants to contribute to the development and distribution of renewable energy technologies while integrating sustainable energies into everyday lives through wind and solar energy generation.