The Steel Joist Institute is now accepting applications for the 2026 cycle of the Dr. James M. Fisher Scholarship, established in honor of CSD’s Vice President Emeritus. For the 2026-2027 academic year, SJI will award ten $5,000 scholarships to civil and architectural engineering students across the United States.
About the Scholarship
The scholarship is open to undergraduate juniors, rising seniors, and master’s students enrolled in civil engineering or architectural engineering programs at U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA. SJI also gives optional consideration to students whose academic and professional experience reflects an interest in structural steel, including those who have completed a steel-related senior design project, held a steel-related internship, or been active members of a local Structural Engineers Association student chapter.
The application process is straightforward. Students watch a short informational video produced by SJI and complete an online quiz to submit their entry. Applications close May 31, 2026, and recipients will be notified by June 30, 2026.
Honoring a Career That Shaped Structural Steel
The scholarship’s namesake has been associated with CSD since 1968 and currently serves as Vice President Emeritus. Across more than half a century in the profession, Jim has authored or co-authored more than a dozen technical books, served as chairman of the AISC Specification Committee from 2003 to 2010, and continues to serve as the Steel Joist Institute’s consulting engineer.
His honors include the AISC T.R. Higgins Lectureship Award (1984), the AISC Lifetime Achievement Award (2000), AISC’s highest honor, the J. Lloyd Kimbrough Award (2006), and the Metal Building Manufacturers Association’s 2024 Dr. Duane S. Ellifritt Award. He was also recently named to AISC’s inaugural class of Fellows.
The scholarship in his name extends that legacy into the next generation of structural and architectural engineers, supporting students at the point in their education where industry exposure and financial support can most meaningfully shape a career.
How to Apply
Eligible students can find the SJI informational video, eligibility details, and application quiz at steeljoist.org/james-m-fisher-scholarship. Applications are due May 31, 2026.