The Link – February, 2010

The Allen D. Williams Scholarship Award

The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC) has created the Allen D. Williams Scholarship Foundation in memory of Allen Williams, ACEC Chair in 2004-2005.

In 1978 Allen Dale Williams established A. D. Williams Engineering Inc. With offices in Alberta, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, the company he founded over 30 years ago has grown to over 200 employees.

The Scholarship Award is to be presented to a Young Professional employee of an ACEC member firm (meeting the FIDIC criteria for a Young Professional including an upper age limit of 35 years) who demonstrates involvement with, or contribution to, priorities identified by an ACEC Member Organization or ACEC itself.

The Scholarship Award shall consist of funds being provided to the winner to cover registration to the annual FIDIC Conference, plus economy airfare return, accommodation and meals during the conference, up to a limit of $5,000.

To be nominated as a potential candidate, submissions are to be presented to a Member Organization, summarizing the candidate's involvement and/or contribution to industry initiatives.

This prestigious annual award will serve as an incentive for Young Professionals of member firms to get involved with their respective Consulting Engineering Industry Associations at the chapter and/or provincial level (or ACEC) to advance the priorities identified by these organizations. In the process they enhance their knowledge of industry issues and advance their own professional development. The winner will benefit from attending an international conference of key industry stakeholders providing insights of global issues and developments.

The concept of the Allen D. Williams Scholarship was first proposed by 2007-08 Chair Leon Botham as a means of honouring the memory of ACEC Past Chair Allen D. Williams.  

At the ACEC's Chairman's Gala in Quebec City, Quebec in September 2008, and at the Gala in Whistler, British Columbia in June 2009, the foundation raised close to $63,000 for the Scholarship Foundation - thank you to all those who pledged!