Student Competitions
ACI's nationally recognized student competitions, offered in cooperation with the ACI Student Activities Committee, give students the opportunity to participate in interesting and educational concrete projects.
Important Announcements
Watch the Mortar Workability webinar to learn more about the ACI Mortar Workability Student Competition. During this webinar, our competition Chairs answered some of your frequently asked questions. This competition is capped at the first 40 teams to complete the submission round.
Undergraduate students are invited to submit an abstract describing their concrete-related research. Research described in an abstract should be work conducted predominantly by undergraduate students. Presentations are to be made by undergraduate students. Graduate students who conducted research while an undergraduate are also welcome to submit an abstract. Presentations on concrete materials, structural design, construction, or other concrete-related issues are all welcome. The deadline is November 21.
Undergraduate students are invited to submit an abstract describing their concrete-related research. Research should be primarily conducted by undergraduate students, with virtual presentations made by undergraduate students. Graduate students who conducted research as an undergraduate are also welcome to submit an abstract. Presentations on concrete materials, structural design, construction, or other applications of concrete are welcome for abstract submission.
Get a glimpse into the lives of young professionals living and working in the concrete industry.
Open Competitions
While other ACI competitions focus mainly on strength or hardened concrete performance, this competition will focus on workability and rheological properties of cement-based materials. As sustainability is an important topic in concrete design and construction, this aspect also needs to be considered. Teams are challenged to create a mortar mixture with optimum flowability and stability. Students are to mix mortar at the convention competition site, and their mixture will be poured into a mold made in the shape of the letters aci from the top of the letter “a”. Both flowability and mixture stability will be evaluated. In creating their mortar mixture, teams will have to pay careful attention to the specified material requirements, just as concrete producers must meet specification and project requirements on a daily basis.
Applications are invited for the 2026 ACI-James Instruments Student Award for Research on NDT of Concrete for original research on nondestructive testing of concrete. The award is sponsored by James Instruments, Inc., a Chicago-based manufacturer and distributor of NDT systems, and it will be given by ACI Committee 228, Nondestructive Testing.
Upcoming Competitions
Atlanta (October 11-14, 2026) – Mortar Workability
Las Vegas (March 21-24, 2027) – FRC Bowling Ball
Orlando (October 24-27, 2027) – Pervious Concrete Cylinder
General Competition Information
English Student Competition Instructional PowerPoint.
Spanish Student Competition Instructional PowerPoint.
Student Competition Questions
Please contact:
Jaeden Jackson
American Concrete Institute
38800 Country Club Drive
Farmington Hills, MI 48331
Fax: +1.248.848.3701
Email: students@concrete.org