Hawthorne, N.J.: The DFI Educational Trust recently awarded scholarships from the Stanley Merjan City College of New York Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund, George J. Tamaro Manhattan College Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund and the William F. Loftus Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Four Grove School of Engineering students received awards from the Stanley Merjan City College of New York Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund. The fund was established in 2010 and is named for the late Stanley Merjan, an inspiration and mentor to young engineers throughout the construction industry, and a graduate of City College of New York. The recipients were seniors Authoy Khondoker and Jurgen Lala, who each received $5,000, and juniors Alexander Estrella and Chaw Nandar, who each received $2,500.

Eight Manhattan University students each received $2,500 awards, two from the William F. Loftus Memorial Scholarship Fund, recently established in memory of Bill Loftus, a DFI founder and the only DFI president to serve twice. The recipients were seniors Tito Mora and Julia Tsesmetzis. And six from the George J. Tamaro Manhattan College Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is named for George J. Tamaro, a member of the first class of DFI Legends award winners and a graduate of Manhattan University. The recipients, all senior civil engineering students, were Armando Flores, Bruce Jiang, Sabrina Kievit, Volodymyr Kurchak, Isabella O’Hara and Domenick Recine.

The students were recognized at the Trust’s Annual Gala held in New York on November 6, 2025, at Terrace On The Park. The event raised more than $30,000. Proceeds from this event benefited the aforementioned William F. Loftus Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides annual scholarships to undergraduate and graduate civil engineering students in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Manhattan University.

To donate to these and other scholarship funds, visit www.trust.dfi.org.

About the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI): DFI (www.dfi.org) is an international association of contractors, engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, academics and owners in the deep foundations industry. Our multidisciplinary membership creates a consensus voice and a common vision for continual improvement in the planning, design and construction of deep foundations and excavations. We bring together members for networking, education, communication and collaboration. With our members, we promote the advancement of the deep foundations industry through technical committees, educational programs and conferences, publications, research, government relations and outreach. DFI has more than 4,500 members worldwide.

About the DFI Educational Trust: The Deep Foundations Institute Educational Trust (www.trust.dfi.org) is an independent, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2006 by the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) as its charitable arm. The mission of the Trust is to support and encourage individuals in the fields of study related to the deep foundations industry by providing scholarships and opportunities to meet and work with deep foundations industry leaders. 

Contact: Emilio S. Fandino, Trust Administrator, +1 (973) 423-4030, efandino@dfi.org.