DFI Educational Trust Awards Women in Deep Foundations Professional Development Grants

Hawthorne, N.J. (September 18, 2025): The DFI Educational Trust has awarded 11 Women in Deep Foundations (WiDF) Professional Development Grants of $1,750 each to women working in the deep foundations industry. The recipients are invited to attend the DFI 50th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations in Nashville, Tennessee, October 20–23. The grant includes complimentary conference registration and covers related expenses for attending the conference.

The grants are being presented during the conference at the DFI Women in Deep Foundations (WiDF) Committee networking reception on Monday, October 20, which raises money to support these grants. 

The recipients are:

• Sara Amoroso, Ph.D., assistant professor, University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy
• Lauren Augustin, E.I.T., Isherwood Geostructural Engineers
• Chelsey Brummer, P.E., assistant foundation engineer, Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Yamini Grover, E.I.T, senior staff engineer, Fugro USA Land
• Sharon Hartley, P.E., senior engineer, GeoStructures
• Libby Hayden, R&D engineer, Schnabel 
• Yuqi Mi, Ph.D. student, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Marjan Shahrokh, Ph.D., P.E., geostructural engineer, Keller
• Margarita Restrepo, P.E., senior geotechnical engineer, Shannon & Wilson
• Aidy Ung, E.I.T, staff geotechnical engineer, Haley & Aldrich
• Kalaiarasi Vembu, Ph.D., P.E., supervising engineer, Fugro USA Marine

This year’s grants are completely funded thanks to the following corporate sponsors: Bauer Foundation and Bauer Foundations Canada, Berkel & Company Contractors, Equipment Corporation America, Green Infrastructure Partners, Malcolm Drilling, Nicholson Construction, Nucor Skyline, Pile Dynamics Inc., Tarra Engineering and Structural Consultants, TEI Rock Drills, and Universal Engineering Sciences. Companies are invited to sponsor future recipients by donating $1,750 or more towards next year’s grants and be recognized as supporters in published articles as well as during the reception during the award presentations.

The WiDF Committee is comprised of women and men who are advocates for retaining women in the deep foundations industry. The goal of the committee is to foster greater success and interest of professional women in the industry by promoting networking events, endorsing outreach and building mentoring relationships.

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 4,000 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.