This article is the first in a series about UHD’s student-centered professional organizations, ranging from smaller groups founded on campus to collegiate chapters of national organizations. Across all four academic colleges, these organizations offer students opportunities for professional development, community service, advocacy, academic enrichment, and more.
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) has been around for 122 years and currently boasts 40,000 industry experts across 120 countries—all in the name of advancing concrete technology. The UHD ACI chapter, part of ACI Houston, plays a role in that advancement through its membership of Gators enrolled in the Structural Analysis/Design Option in the Engineering Technology program.
“Our members gain hands-on experience through semester competitions that challenge us to apply engineering concepts in design, planning, calculations, and leadership roles,” said Chapter President Edward Mota. “It’s not just about theory—we go through the full process of trial and error, learning how to design, test, and improve our ideas in a way that reflects real-world engineering practices.”
That’s how UHD’s ACI team placed second in Texas and in the top ten nationally when tasked with designing a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) concrete beam at the ACI FRP Composites Competition in Chicago. Mota said, “Everything we accomplished was a team effort. Every member contributed to the design, fabrication, and decision-making process, and that collaboration is what allowed us to compete at an international level.”
Mota praised ACI for its network of industry professionals and students: “It creates opportunities to network, learn, and build connections that go beyond the classroom.”