Sweetwater Authority (Authority) recently welcomed fifteen students and faculty from Stanford University’s The Bill Lane Center for the American West. Group members are part of the university’s multidisciplinary course of study on “Coastal Resilience: Problems and Solutions to Extreme Weather Challenges on the West Coast.”
The Bill Lane Center for the American West is dedicated to advancing scholarly and public understanding of the past, present, and future of western North America. The Center supports research, teaching, and reporting about Western land and life in the United States.
The Stanford University group visited the Robert A. Perdue Water Treatment Plant and Sweetwater Reservoir, as well as the Richard A. Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility in Chula Vista. Photo: Sweetwater Authority
The students and faculty first toured the Robert A. Perdue Water Treatment Plant and Sweetwater Reservoir, where they learned how the Authority secures and treats local water, maintains a historic dam, and manages watershed activities for the beneficial use of agency operations and the protection of environmental resources.
The group then visited the Richard A. Reynolds Groundwater Desalination Facility in Chula Vista. There, the students and Authority representatives discussed challenges facing groundwater supplies due to climate change before touring the award-winning facility.
Collaboration Addresses Challenges of Climate Change
“It was our honor to host the Stanford group and engage in these important discussions with the next generation of leaders,” said Board Chair Paulina Martinez-Perez. Photo: Sweetwater Authority
“The challenges presented by climate change as it relates to providing a sustainable and drought-proof water supply are great, and we need the brightest minds working to ensure long-term resilience for the western region,” said Authority Board Chair Paulina Martinez-Perez.
In its vision to become a leader in sustainability and the fight against climate change, the Authority’s Governing Board sets objectives within the agency’s Strategic Plan to work toward achieving carbon neutrality.
Current fiscal year objectives include implementing a Green Fleet Plan, installing EV stations at its facilities, and exploring green energy solutions like a proposed floating solar project at Sweetwater Reservoir to reduce costs and offset carbon generated as part of water agency operations. For more information, visit www.sweetwater.org/workplan.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Sweetwater-Stanford1.1080X720.jpg7231080Gayle Falkenthalhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngGayle Falkenthal2024-09-30 16:05:322024-09-30 16:05:32Sweetwater Authority Hosts Stanford University Students and Faculty
Elementary school students in Padre Dam Municipal Water District schools are making a splash and being recognized for their artwork, which highlights the importance of being water-wise.
Padre Dam’s Board of Directors announced the winners of the District’s “Being Water Wise Is…” Student Poster Contest during its June board meeting.
Thirteen kindergarten through fifth-grade students from Alpine, El Cajon, and Santee schools took top spots for their creativity and eye-catching artwork. Students, their teachers, family, and friends viewed their artwork on display at Padre Dam’s August A. Caires Customer Service Center.
During the Board meeting, the students were individually recognized, and each received a certificate and an art kit.
Padre Dam Student Poster Contest Winners for 2024
Alias Brias, Hill Creek School, Santee, fifth grade
Alison Ambriz, Boulder Oaks Elementary School, Alpine, third grade
Anthony Avila Medina, Pepper Drive School, El Cajon, kindergarten
Ava Turnwall, Cajon Park School, Santee, fifth grade
Bruce Dowding, Boulder Oaks Elementary School, Alpine, second grade
Elena Zeitsen, Carlton Oaks School, Santee, fourth grade
Emma Wachter, Boulder Oaks Elementary School, Alpine, first grade
“We are excited to celebrate these talented students and their artwork,” said Bill Pommering, Padre Dam board president. “This annual contest demonstrates a commitment to water use efficiency and reminds us of the important ways we can protect this precious resource.”
Winners Shed Light on Efficient Water Use
The 13 winning pieces of art were selected from over 400 entries. Each hand-drawn poster was created around the theme “Being Water Wise Is…” The students’ artwork shed light on wise and efficient water use at home, school, and throughout the community.
Boulder Oaks Elementary School in Alpine was recognized as this year’s top submitting school. The school will receive a sponsored Splash Mobile Science Lab during the upcoming academic year.
Selected artwork will advance to a regional art contest held by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Winning entries from Metropolitan’s 26 member agencies will be featured in its 2025 calendar. This calendar is expected to be distributed to about 13,000 recipients.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Padre-Dam-Poster-Contest-2024-1080.jpg9661500Gayle Falkenthalhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngGayle Falkenthal2024-06-17 19:34:432024-06-20 10:15:50Padre Dam Honors Winners of the 2024 Student Poster Contest
The Helix Water District selected two East County students as recipients of $1,000 college scholarships for 2024. The students were recognized at the May Board of Directors meeting.
Paige Newlon Receives Friedgen Scholarship
Paige Newlon of El Cajon is the 2024 recipient of Helix Water District’s Robert D. Friedgen Scholarship. Newlon poses with Director and Scholarship Committee Chair Andrea Beth Damsky and Board President Dan McMillan. Photo: Helix Water District
Paige Newlon received the Robert D. Friedgen Scholarship. It was established upon Friedgen’s retirement in 1998, after serving as Helix’s general manager for 19 years. Friedgen provided the seed money, and the board and others contributed additional funding.
Newlon graduated from The Academy of Our Lady of Peace. Newlon will attend Loyola Marymount University next fall and plans to major in chemistry and political science to effectively navigate and lead in both science and policymaking.
Newlon played volleyball on the Academy’s varsity and beach volleyball teams, and with a club team. Her team won the San Diego Section, Division 2 champions in 2023, a first for The Academy of Our Lady of Peace, and Newlon was named to the San Diego City Conference All-Academic Team.
Newlon was co-president of the Academy’s academic league, organizing student teams to compete with
other schools, and was also on the speech and debate team. Newlon wrote for the Pilot Post school
newspaper, performed in the Academy’s Spring Sing musicals, and is an ambassador to prospective
students and their families.
Layth Polus Receives Childs Scholarship
Layth Polus of Spring Valley is the 2024 recipient of Helix Water District’s Dr. Lillian M. Childs Scholarship. Polus poses with Director and Scholarship Committee Chair Andrea Beth Damsky and Board President Dan McMillan. Photo: Helix Water District
Layth Polus received the Dr. Lillian M. Childs Scholarship. The Helix board established it in 1999 to honor Childs upon her retirement from the board and recognize the 20 years of service and leadership she had given to the district.
Polus graduated from Valhalla High School. Polus will attend UC San Diego next fall and plans to major in human biology. He plans to attend dental school and become an orthodontist.
Polus founded and served as president of the Medical Pathway Club at Valhalla High School for students interested in medical careers. He also organized Healthcare Town, an event that brought 60 club members to Vista Grande Elementary School to teach third-grade students about personal health.
Polus volunteered over 400 hours at Sharp Grossmont Hospital as a nurse’s aide and in other roles and
over 200 hours at the Red Cross, helping with blood drives, food drives, and the nonprofit’s Volunteer
Connect software application. He participated in Valhalla’s academic league as a Junior Ambassador
to help other students engage with their community on Norse Crew, which welcomes and assists
Valhalla’s newest students, and in Toastmasters.
Both Newlon and Polus also have part-time jobs.
Helix Annual College Scholarship Supports District Students
The Helix Water District contacts high school counselors in the fall to inform students about the annual scholarship contest. Applicants must live in the district’s service area, have excellent academic standing, and excel in community service and extracurricular activities. Applicants submit an essay about the East County Advanced Water Purification Project and provide a personal goals statement with two letters of recommendation.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Helix-2024-Scholarship-Winners-Board-845X450-1.jpg448845Gayle Falkenthalhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngGayle Falkenthal2024-06-06 16:23:462024-06-06 16:23:46Exceptional Students Win College Scholarships from Helix Water District
At the June Helix Water District board meeting, talented student artists were honored for their winning work in the 2024 Student Poster Contest. The students created winning posters to depict the theme “Being Water Wise Is visually.”
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California holds the regional poster contest to increase student awareness about water. Kindergarten through eighth-grade students in local district schools are eligible to compete. This year, 174 students from 19 schools within the Helix Water District Service area submitted posters depicting how to use water wisely.
The following students took top honors:
2024 Student Poster Contest: Grades K – 4 Category
First Place – Arya French, Flying Hills School of the Arts, Grade 4
Second Place – Peyton Terrell, Christ Lutheran School, Grade 3
Third Place – Audrey Pierce, Christ Lutheran School, Grade 3
First Place – Ranya Boubetana, La Mesa Arts Academy, Grade 7
Second Place – Catalina Raquel Jones, La Mesa Arts Academy, Grade 8
Third Place – Audrey Robinson, Art with Larisse Art School, Grade 8
Honorable Mention – Joaquin Saguaro Alcantar, La Mesa Arts Academy, Grade 7
Honorable Mention – Charlotte Chatham, La Mesa Arts Academy, Grade 8
This is the second year Catalina Raquel Jones and Audrey Robinson have been named poster contest winners.
All winning posters will be forwarded to the Metropolitan Water District to be considered for inclusion in its 2025 “Being Water Wise Is” calendar. All posters are displayed on the Helix Water District website and Facebook page.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Helix-2024-Poster-Winners.jpg450845Gayle Falkenthalhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngGayle Falkenthal2024-06-06 13:39:252024-06-06 13:39:25Helix Water District 2024 Student Poster Contest Winners Illustrate “Being Water Wise Is”
The City of Escondido’s Environmental Programs division announced the 2024 Water Awareness Calendar Contest winners at the May 15 City Council meeting. Twelve fourth-grade students enrolled in Escondido’s public and private elementary schools were honored by the City Council in front of their families, city staff, and teachers for the art they submitted to the annual contest.
The top 12 Poster Contest winners are currently displayed in the Escondido Library in the Children’s section and at the Escondido East Valley Community Center. Photo: City of Escondido
Winning images showcased each artist’s perspective on the calendar theme, “Love Water, Save Water.” Three student artists were chosen to represent Escondido Water in the North County Water Agencies 2025 calendar
The winning students and their artworks:
Winning artwork from Cora Edwards, “When You Take A Sip Of Water.” Photo: City of Escondido
Cora Edwards, Fourth Grade, Grace Christian School
Winning artwork from Salma DeLeon, “Be The Solution, Not The Pollution.” Photo: City of Escondido
Salma De Leon, Fourth Grade, Grace Christian School
Winning artwork from Aubrey Vuoti, “Don’t Be A Waster, Be A Saver.” Photo: City of Escondido
Aubrey Vuoti, Fourth Grade, Grace Christian School
One Hundred Students Participated In 2024 Student Poster Contest
The 12 winning students and their families were recognized at the May 15 City of Escondido Council meeting. Photo: City of Escondido
The Environmental Programs division received over 100 artwork submissions this year after City staff visited fourth-grade classrooms across Escondido this spring.
During classroom visits, City staff educates fourth graders on how Escondido’s Water Treatment facility operates, and the unique resources found within Escondido that provide local water to the treatment plant including Dixon Lake and Lake Wohlford. Students get the opportunity to experiment and design water filtration models to solidify how vital access to fresh and clean water is to this community.
Winning students and their teachers received prizes generously donated by local businesses. The top 12 Poster Contest winners are currently displayed in the Escondido Library in the Children’s section and at the Escondido East Valley Community Center. They will be featured on Escondido’s website starting in June.
Biodiversity is increasingly threatened, making habitat preservation a priority. Recognizing the need for action, the Vallecitos Water District partnered with the San Diego Audubon Society to launch the Native Plant Seed Library, a groundbreaking program aimed at safeguarding botanical heritage.
The library ensures the region’s botanical heritage remains intact for future generations and supports bird species, pollinators, and other local wildlife.
Ribbon cutting for Native Plant Seed Library
Supporters and Vallecitos Water District board members and staff celebrate the opening of the new Native Plant Seed Library. Photo: Chris Robbins, Vallecitos Water District
A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on May 14 to celebrate the library’s grand opening at the Vallecitos Sustainable Demonstration Garden, where the newly installed Native Plant Seed Library is located.
“Thank you for caring, for this wonderful way we can share in our community and ways we can care for our planet, care for our species, conserve water, and care for each other. We want to encourage the public to come,” said Dr. Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson, Vallecitos Water District board chair.
See video from the event here.
“Our sustainable demonstration garden has a lot of visitors, including butterflies, dragonflies, bees, and numerous birds. The Native Plant Seed Library is part of our ongoing effort to get human visitors to come to our garden as well. We want people to learn about gardening, native plants, insects, birds, and all the beauty of a low water use garden,” said Chris Robbins, public information/conservation supervisor for the Vallecitos Water District.
Bees inspire Native Plant Seed Library
Native seeds and plants support native wildlife, including vital pollinators. Photo: Lisa Urabe, Vallecitos Water District
Vallecitos Water District public information representative and UCCE Master Gardener Lisa Urabe wanted a California native plant garden for years for all its benefits, but finding a wide selection of native plants was becoming time-consuming and costly. When her cousin surprised her with a packet of native seeds, she scattered them into her yard at home.
“Fast forward to spring when our front yard became an explosion of gorgeous wildflowers. I saw bumble bees and other native bees for the first time since childhood, and it brought me so much joy.” This became the inspiration for the new Native Plant Seed Library.
A look inside the Vallecitos Water District’s new Native Plant Seed Library. Photo: Chris Robbins, Vallecitos Water District
“By providing native California seeds in the library, residents can pick up seeds in a convenient location at no cost. They are easy to grow, beautiful and so beneficial to the migratory birds and butterflies as well as the many native creatures that call San Diego home. By removing some of the obstacles to planting California native plants, it’s a win-win for wildlife and the community,” said Urabe.
San Diego Audubon Society program supports native habitat
Native seeds are carefully packaged and labeled for distribution. Photo: Chris Robbins, Vallecitos Water District
The Native Plant Seed Library Program, launched three years ago by volunteers from the San Diego Audubon Society’s Advocacy Program, addresses the critical lack of native habitat in San Diego County. With 50 Native Seed Libraries established and supported by staff and organizations like the California Native Plant Society (San Diego Chapter), the program educates the community on native plant importance and provides accessible seeds.
An interactive map on the San Diego Audubon Society’s website helps locate the nearest library. Users are encouraged to return clean, mature seeds to sustain both plant life and the free libraries. For more details, visit sandiegoaudubon.org or email
Focus on San Diego County indigenous plants
All seeds in the Native Plant Seed Library are from plant species native to San Diego County. Photo: Chris Robbins, Vallecitos Water District
The Vallecitos Seed Library focuses on San Diego County’s indigenous plants. Native plants benefit local wildlife and typically use less than half of the amount of water required for most drought-tolerant plants, such as rosemary or lavender.
Some of the seeds currently provided in the library include California poppy, black sage, and narrow leaf milkweed, which supports the monarch butterfly population. By promoting the cultivation of indigenous species, the library seeks to preserve biodiversity and support the health and resilience of local ecosystems.
From colorful wildflowers to towering trees, each seed in the library tells a story of adaptation, resilience, and the intricate relationships that bind plants, animals, and humans together in the web of life.
Free gardening books and native seeds
In 2023, a Little Free Library was installed at the north end of the Vallecitos Water District garden, stocked with garden books to inspire residents to adopt water-wise gardening practices. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
In addition to the treasure trove of seeds collected from native plants across the county, visitors may also take free gardening books from the District’s “Little Free Library.” Vallecitos Water District stocks this lending library throughout the year with various garden books to inspire residents to adopt a water-wise garden lifestyle.
The seed box and garden book library are available during regular business hours. The address is 201 Vallecitos De Oro, San Marcos. Learn more about the Native Plant Seed Library at its new website.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/VWD-Seed-Library_0117-845X450.jpg450845Gayle Falkenthalhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngGayle Falkenthal2024-05-19 23:19:512024-05-19 23:19:51Vallecitos Water District Opens Audubon Society Native Plant Seed Library
Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors recognized its top three entries in the 2024 North County Water Agencies Water Awareness Poster Contest at its May board meeting.
The theme for the 2024 contest was “Love Water, Save Water.” The contest teaches students the value of water as a limited resource and the importance of using it wisely while providing OMWD with locally produced artwork to reinforce this message to its customers.
Clara Brigden from Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School, Aria Drelich from Stone Ranch Elementary School, and Maia McAllum from La Costa Heights Elementary School submitted the winning entries.
Fourth-grade students attending schools in OMWD’s service area participated in this year’s competition.
Winning posters
Poster contest winning artwork created by Clara Brigden from Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District
Clara’s poster showcases rain falling on planet Earth as it floats on the ocean under a rainbow and states, “Be kind and save water.”
Poster contest winning artwork created by Aria Drelich from Stone Ranch Elementary School. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District
Aria’s poster features the phrase “save our water to help our Earth grow” under a rainbow and a faucet flowing water into hands.
Poster contest winning artwork created by Maia McAllum from La Costa Heights Elementary School. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District
Maia’s poster depicts a large faucet with water flowing onto planet Earth, with floating hearts and the statement “grateful for water.
Poster contest encourages sustainable water future
“Engaging our young community members lays the foundation for a sustainable water future,” said OMWD Board Vice President Matthew Hahn. “The student artwork not only reflects an appreciation for this precious resource but also reminds us all to protect our water supply for generations to come.”
This year marks the 31st year of the annual Water Awareness Poster Contest. The recognized posters will be featured in a 2025 Water Awareness Calendar.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/OMWD-Poster-Winners-2024-845X450.jpg450845Gayle Falkenthalhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngGayle Falkenthal2024-05-16 12:46:342024-05-16 12:46:34OMWD Names Winners of the 2024 Water Awareness Poster Contest
The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors on April 26 honored six star students for top-tier water projects in the 2024 Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. The awards are part of the agency’s effort to inspire young people to solve water-related challenges and pursue water industry careers.
This year’s middle school and high school science and engineering projects displayed a wide range of innovative solutions to real world water problems. They were each honored with a plaque and a scholarship ranging from $100 to $300.
In the senior division, Lilian Zeng won first place by tackling a widespread, emerging issue – “forever chemicals” such as PFAs in drinking water. The tenth grader from Del Norte High School was inspired by her research on using naturally occurring substances and life forms — like active carbon and white rot fungi — to help mitigate issues caused by synthetic chemicals.
Leaning into new technology to solve existing problems
Sanya Kapoor, also a sophomore from Del Norte High School, captured second place in the senior division. She designed a machine learning algorithm that can optimize energy consumption at wastewater treatment and desalination plants.
Malik Mansour, a freshman at Bright Horizon Academy, secured third place in the senior division with his creation of a solar powered robot that cleans debris from rivers and other bodies of water.
Middle school students look for solutions to benefit the world
Middle school students like Aminah Siddiqui displayed their forward-thinking science and engineering knowledge and skills at this year’s event. Photo: Water Authority
In the junior division, eighth grader Aminah Siddiqui from Bright Horizon Academy won first place with her development of a water filtration system that can be used in developing countries, where resources and funding may be difficult to find. Aminah explained that her travels and personal experiences inspired her to look for solutions that could benefit underserved communities around the world.
Virginia Zhu, an eighth grader from Oak Valley Middle School, won second place in the junior division by designing and building an electronic smart watering system. Virginia’s idea came from her observations of her own garden as well as agricultural challenges throughout the state.
Emilio Castaneda Martinez, an eighth grader from Chula Vista Middle School, won third place in the junior division with his project that displayed data and solutions for tracking and filtering total dissolved solids in drinking water throughout San Diego County.
Inspiring the next generation of water professionals
Thousands of people across all levels of educational attainment work at the Water Authority and its 23 member agencies to provide safe and reliable water supplies to the region. Engineers, environmental scientists, system operators, maintenance technicians, customer service representatives, and utility workers are just some of the many careers available in the water industry.
As water agencies look for the next generation of industry professionals and leaders, participating in events such as the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair helps current water professionals connect with students who may be interested in joining the water workforce.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-fair-845x450-1.jpg450845Kristiene Gonghttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngKristiene Gong2024-04-29 16:34:492024-04-29 16:34:49Future Water Leaders Shine at 2024 Science and Engineering Fair
A partnership between Palomar College’s Water Technology Program and the Vallecitos Water District’s workforce development program gives students a hands-on opportunity to explore water and wastewater industry jobs and increase their career readiness.
Vallecitos Water District intern Ben Crane works as part of the collections department. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Palomar College professor Jacob Shiba and Vallecitos Water District Public Information/Conservation Supervisor Chris Robbins first discussed the idea in 2019. “We talked about having the interns spend time in each department so they would get the full depth and breadth of our employee roles,” said Robbins. “I also explained to Jacob that it would need (leadership support). I put him in touch with board member Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson, and she became the force behind getting approval.”
The District’s leadership and board supported the program’s development, but its implementation was delayed due to the pandemic. It is now underway, with five students accepted into the program.
See a video about the internship program here.
Internships invaluable for Palomar students
The internship is open to any Palomar College students who have taken a water technology course. Participants are selected through a competitive interview process.
Shiba says the objective is to ensure Palomar students are ready to enter the workforce. “Palomar’s partnership with Vallecitos Water District is invaluable, and it’s really helped our program increase the number of workplace learning opportunities for our students so that they are as career-ready as they can be when they complete our program.”
Ben Crane learned about the internship opportunity from Shiba and he decided to go for it. He also applied for and received a scholarship from the Vallecitos Water District. “I learned a great deal about our water distribution system and how our water is treated.”
Crane spent two days in each department, working alongside Vallecitos water and wastewater professionals. He said he enjoyed learning how to work in teams and was encouraged to ask questions, and everyone gave him insight on how he should approach his career.
Among his highlights was spending time with general manager James Gumpel, who was assistant general manager at the time. “He helped me understand what it’s like to be upper management. He gave me some insight from a seasoned guy who has been in the industry a while,” said Crane.
Interns experience a wide variety of careers
Vallecitos Water District intern Logan Crawford assists with residential water meter readings. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Palomar College student Logan Crawford is currently working his way through the internship program. He said he’s improved his skills working with his hands, joining field crews in the meter department, and practicing his public speaking skills.
Crawford advises participants to keep an open mind. “You go through pretty much every department the district has to offer. It may not be something you think you’re interested in, but you might find yourself falling in love with (the job), and you had no idea. Keeping an open mind really helps. Every day I come to the internship, it’s a new experience.”
After completing his internship, Palomar College student Evan Fox found full-time employment. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Intern Evan Fox successfully found full-time employment with the San Elijo Joint Powers Authority after his internship.
Crane, who is continuing his education as a geography major at Cal State San Marcos, encouraged other students to apply. “It’s a great opportunity. If you’re still pursuing your education … If you’re thinking of pursuing in the water industry, this is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door.”
Developing skilled workforce of the future
Learning to work as part of a team is a vital takeaway from the Palomar College and Vallecitos Water District internship program. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Shiba praised the partnership for giving students the opportunity to increase their career readiness “so that they are ready to enter the water workforce to become a future water and wastewater specialist.” Shiba notes the importance of workforce development is what allows customers “to wash our hands, flush the toilet and take a shower 24/7.”
“It’s been a great success,” said Robbins. “Some of my favorite moments are when an intern realizes he or she likes a department more than they expected. The mechanical electrical department is often a surprise for students. They had not thought of all the pumps and motors we must maintain.”
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/VWD-Interns-Phlavia-Oryem-lab-845x450-1.jpg453845Gayle Falkenthalhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngGayle Falkenthal2024-04-16 20:22:552024-04-16 20:22:55Palomar College and Vallecitos Water District Internship Program Develops Water Workforce
The San Diego County Water Authority and San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) have embarked on a pioneering education partnership to inspire students regionwide to pursue careers in the water and wastewater industry. This new program is the latest initiative in a long history of regional education outreach reaching hundreds of thousands of students in the last two decades.
At the Innovation Center in Linda Vista, SDCOE hosts groups of students, many of whom come from underserved and underrepresented communities, for weeklong innovation programs. These programs are designed to help students identify their individual strengths through an assessment, which highlights several strength areas: Realistic (R), Investigative (I), Artistic (A), Social (S), Enterprising (E), and Conventional (C).
Priority Career Sectors Critical to Region’s Economic Future
Students are grouped into teams that have complementary strengths to work together on water-related activities and learn about possible water industry career paths. Photo: San Diego County Office of Education
“At the Linda Vista Innovation Center, we aim to inspire kids to find their strengths, interests, and values and match those with San Diego Workforce Partnership priority sector careers,” said Dr. Matthew Tessier, Assistant Superintendent of Innovation at the San Diego County Office of Education. “Partnerships with organizations like the San Diego County Water Authority are crucial to our mission, and we look forward to working together to build a brighter future for all.”
These programs give students a glimpse into the opportunities available in various industries, many of which are on the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s priority list. The industries on the list are critical to the region’s economy and will need to hire substantial numbers of capable new employees in the foreseeable future.
Education Partnership Informs Students About Water Industry Careers
The Innovation Center also supports SDCOE’s goals to significantly reduce the number of students living in poverty and reduce overall unemployment in the region over the next decade. By matching students with potential career paths and inspiring them to lean into their strengths early on, thousands of students from elementary to high school leave the program knowing about opportunities that they may not have known about otherwise.
Organizations like the Water Authority and its member agencies benefit from generations of students becoming interested in water-related careers, which are essential to the region’s economy and quality of life.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SDCOE-Activity-845x450-1.jpg450845Gayle Falkenthalhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngGayle Falkenthal2024-04-04 13:30:122024-04-04 13:30:12Education Partnership Inspires Future Water Leaders
Second Place – Catalina Raquel Jones, La Mesa Arts Academy, Grade 8
Honorable Mention – Joaquin Saguaro Alcantar, La Mesa Arts Academy, Grade 7
