Road Scholars program turns a corner in 2025

Ty JohnsonDecember 17, 2024

2 minutes read

Graduate students pursuing higher degrees in asphalt pavement fields will soon receive support from a new program established by the NAPA Research & Education Foundation (NAPAREF) and the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT).

Beginning in 2025, pavement studies graduate students at Auburn University will be eligible for stipends made possible through the NCAT Road Scholars program, which aims to incentivize students to complete their studies in asphalt technologies.

NAPAREF set a goal to raise $3 million in the program’s first year, and the fund is 97.4% there.

Learn how your contributions can transform the future of the asphalt pavement industry.
Pledge your support in any amount, up to $100,000+, and choose to spread payments over 1 to 5 years.

*2024 NAPA Chairman* **Brady Meldrem** *(far left), NAPAREF Chairman* **Jay Winford***, and NAPA President & CEO* **Audrey Copeland** *present a* *ceremonial check to the Auburn University Foundation supporting the NAPAREF Road Scholars program for funds pledged to date to AU* *President* **Chris Roberts** *and NCAT Director* **Randy West** *at NAPA’s 2024 Midyear Meeting.*

One outstanding product of NCAT is its graduate students, who are now scattered in all sectors of industry across the U.S. and abroad. They enter the workforce with an outstanding education, ready to tackle issues in the real world of designing, building and maintaining our pavement infrastructure.

With 9 pavements engineering faculty members and 11 additional highly qualified NCAT research engineers on staff, each graduate student interacts daily with a phenomenal team of experts who love sharing their knowledge.

Partner with NAPAREF

Your participation inspires students, exemplifying the ways in which corporations are dedicated to excellence in teaching and research in the asphalt and roadway industry.

While your monetary support is truly transformational, you also provide graduate students the prestige of a named fellowship associated with a leading organization in the industry. NAPA’s named fellowship for students at NCAT not only brings prestige to the recipients, but also to NAPA as a representation of the company’s leadership in the industry.