CIM Student Honored with Rawlins Merit Award

Twelve students with major achievements in the classroom and in the community will be honored in a special ceremony on March 1 as recipients of the 37th annual Lieutenant Robert Merton Rawlins Merit Award.

The award—one of the largest and most prestigious at Chico State—celebrates scholarship, extracurricular activities, and outstanding academic and professional accomplishments. Awards are also based on evidence of a student’s sincere intent to complete their education, to increase their personal knowledge, and to achieve success in every aspect of life.

The Rawlins merit scholarships are named in honor of Lt. Robert Merton Rawlins, who died piloting a B-29 bomber over Tokyo Bay during World War II. Wishing to leave a legacy in the name of her son, Fern Rawlins established the Lt. Robert Merton Rawlins Merit Award endowment in 1981.

Since the program’s inception, more than $1 million in scholarships has been awarded to more than 800 deserving CSU, Chico students.

Damien is a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in concrete industry management and a minor in business administration. He is the current president of the International Concrete Repair Institute’s Chico State chapter, and works as a lab assistant for the Concrete Industry Management program through the University Research Foundation. Damien recently completed an internship with Master Builders Solutions in Beachwood, Ohio, where he was a researcher and developer in market research and product development and testing. Damien also completed an internship with the Concrete Preservation Institute in San Francisco, where he evaluated the integrity of concrete structures on Alcatraz Island, and restored some of the city’s concrete buildings while maintaining their historic aesthetic. Due to his academic performance, Damien has been a recipient of the President’s Scholarship since 2015, has also received several other honorable awards such as the Weatherton Award Scholarship and an ACI fellowship, and is a Dean’s List recipient. Aside from his academic achievements, Damien has also completed several service projects in the Chico community, such as renovating Caper Acres Children’s Playground and Sierra View Elementary’s courtyard. One of his nominators, Amanda Muller, wrote: “Damien has a lengthy resume but some of his best qualities are seen in his day-to-day interactions between his peers . . . Damien’s enthusiasm for knowledge and the concrete industry only inspires those around him to be better and to be more involved on campus and in the community.”

Article by Savannah Anderson, University Communications.

Read about all of the Rawlins' Award recipients.
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