Six Students Awarded Scholarships by Vista Irrigation District
Vista Irrigation District has awarded college scholarships to six high school seniors and selected three fourth-grade students as winners of two separate district‑sponsored contests.
Tag Archive for: Scholarships
2023 Scholarship Applications Open for Future Water Professionals
San Diego regional member water agencies and California water associations will offer multiple college scholarship opportunities in 2023 to help candidates secure their education as water and wastewater professionals.
2023 Scholarship Applications Open for Future Water Professionals
San Diego regional member water agencies and California water associations will offer multiple college scholarship opportunities in 2023 to help candidates secure their education as water and wastewater professionals.
The acceleration of industry retirement and the increasing need for a skilled workforce trained to implement new technologies result in an increased effort to develop more skilled individuals for water and wastewater industry jobs, including in San Diego County.
Scholarships are available for community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, and graduate-level programs. The following examples are due in the coming weeks for study in the 2022-2023 academic school year.
San Diego regional water scholarships
Helix Water District offers two $1,000 scholarships to students pursuing water industry careers. Photo: Helix Water District
The Helix Water District offers two $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors living within the district’s service area who will begin their university studies next fall. Applications are due March 10 for the Dr. Lillian M. Childs Scholarship and the Robert D. Friedgen Scholarship, which both help with freshman-year expenses. The scholarship committee reviews each applicant’s grades, extracurricular activities, volunteer and work experience, academic and career goals and financial needs.
High school seniors must graduate in Spring 2023 and attend a four-year college or university next fall. Students submit a two-page essay exploring the case in favor or against developing potable reuse and the East County Advanced Water Purification project. Students can verify their eligibility by calling 619-466-0585. Deadline: March 10, 2023. Application Link.
The Vista Irrigation District offers up to six scholarships between $1,000 and $3,000 to high school students living or attending school within the district. The purpose of the scholarship program is to increase knowledge and awareness of water-related issues impacting their community. Students who compete for a scholarship must complete an essay and provide a personal statement. Selection criteria also include community involvement or volunteer service. Deadline: February 24, 2023. Application Link.
Students can contact Brent Reyes at (760) 597-3107 or with questions or request application information.
Through the Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges, the Mark Watton Scholarship Fund supports students attending the Center for Water Studies at Cuyamaca College. It honors Otay Water District General Manager Mark Watton’s four decades of service to the district.
Applicants must be currently enrolled for at least six units at Cuyamaca College, verify financial need, and complete the general application and essay. Scholarships of $1,000 are available. Students can contact scholarship specialist Ernest Williams at 619-660-4537 or email for more information.
Sweetwater Authority “Work for Water”
Sweetwater Authority’s “Work for Water” scholarship program offers two $1,000 scholarships to new or currently enrolled students at the Center for Water Studies or another accredited college, community college, or trade school with a career goal in the water industry. For questions regarding the scholarship, application, or uploading documentation, please email SchoolEducation@sweetwater.org.
In 2022, the Sweetwater Authority Governing Board awarded scholarships to David Inchaurregui Jr. of Chula Vista and Kassandra Beltran of National City. Inchaurregui Jr. is currently attending the Center for Water Studies at Cuyamaca College, pursuing a career as a water treatment plant operator. Beltran is seeking her Master’s Degree at San Diego State University, intending to work in water policy and administration.
Vallecitos Water District Scholarship Contest
The Vallecitos Water District invites local high school seniors and students at both Palomar College and California State University San Marcos to compete for scholarships from the District. Up to six scholarships may be awarded in amounts up to $1,000 per scholarship. The purpose of the scholarship program is to encourage students to learn more about water related issues impacting their community.
Students may download an application package from www.vwd.org, or contact Chris Robbins at (760) 752-7120 or to have the materials sent to them. Deadline: March 31, 2023. Applications must be received via e-mail or at the District office by 5 p.m. Eligible students must live or go to school within the Vallecitos Water District’s service area.
California statewide water scholarships
Approximately 1,400 water and wastewater industry jobs will become available in San Diego County in the next five years. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
ACWA
The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) offers four undergraduate scholarships, one graduation scholarship, and a fellowship opportunity to qualified applicants attending a University of California or California State University campus. Students must be juniors or seniors pursuing an undergraduate degree in a water-resources related field such as engineering, agriculture, environmental studies, or public administration. Criteria include academic achievement and motivation to the vocation of water-resources management.
ACWA began its scholarship programs in 1961 to motivate committed students to join the effort to ensure California’s water quality through sound management policies. The scholarship program is all about investing in future water leaders. Deadline: March 1, 2023. Application Link. For questions, call 916-441-4545 or email .
CA-NV AWWA
The California-Nevada section of the American Water Works Association (CA-NV AWWA) awards more than $20,000 in scholarships to support students and professionals pursuing careers in a drinking water related field. Two $5,000 graduate scholarships, four $2,500 undergraduate scholarships, and two $1,000 scholarships in support of training as a drinking water treatment/distribution operator are available.
Environmental and civil engineers; water, wastewater, and recycling treatment plant operators; distribution system operators; chemists; laboratory technicians; biologists, ecologists, and environmental scientists; and others whose roles support safe and reliable drinking water are all suitable candidates. Deadline: March 15, 2023. Application Link. For information, call 909-481-7200 or email
WEF
The Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) Canham Graduate Studies scholarship provides $25,000 for a post-baccalaureate student in the water environment field. The scholarship is for education-related expenses such as room and board, tuition, and books. The scholarship may not be used to cover stipends or wages.
The applicant must be a WEF member, complete an online application, and be enrolled in a graduate program. Recipients must commit to working in the water industry for two years following graduation. Deadline: March 31, 2023. Application Link. For questions, email Lisa Ruane at lruane@wef.org
(Editor’s note: The Helix Water District, Otay Water District, Vallecitos Water District, Sweetwater Authority and Vista Irrigation District are five of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the San Diego County region.)
Water News Network Top Stories of 2022
The Water News Network top stories of 2022 were drought-related and features about technology and college scholarships also engaged readers.
Water News Network Top Stories of 2022
The #1 Water News Network Top Story of 2022 focused on scholarship opportunities for water industry education and the growing need for water and wastewater industry workers:
Multiple California water associations and water agencies in San Diego County are offering college scholarships to help candidates achieve their goals.
A large number of recent retirements combined with the need for a skilled workforce up to date on new technologies have resulted in a critical need to increase the talent pool of skilled individuals in the water and wastewater industry, including in San Diego County.
Funding water industry education and training
Otay Water District officials presents the first donation for a scholarship fund to Cuyamaca College President Dr. Julianna Barnes named after Otay General Manager Mark Watton. Photo: Otay Water District
Among the highlights in the January 20 story, was news about the Mark Watton Scholarship Fund, established by the Otay Water District at the Foundation for Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges. The fund supports students attending the Center for Water Studies at Cuyamaca College. It honors Otay Water District General Manager Mark Watton’s four decades of service to the district.
Patent for pipeline inspection system
The #2 most viewed story on the Water News Network in 2022 highlighted an innovative tool to inspect pipelines developed by the San Diego County Water Authority:
The Water Authority has been granted its first ever utility patent for a device that inspects interior sections of water pipelines that are inaccessible or not safe to inspect without expensive specialized gear and training.
Industry-leading asset management program
Water Authority Operations and Maintenance Manager Martin Coghill invented the tool to save time, reduce costs and improve safety during ongoing aqueduct inspections. The Water Authority’s industry-leading Asset Management Program includes a proactive search for pipeline weaknesses that can be addressed before they become large and costly problems.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Patent #US011,293,581 on April 5, 2022, for the Water Authority’s pipeline inspection system, which comprises a body, cameras, support members and light sources to capture high-resolution images of pipeline walls.
The San Diego County Water Authority has been granted its first ever utility patent for a device that inspects interior sections of water pipelines that are inaccessible or not safe to inspect without expensive specialized gear and training. Inventor Martin Coghill calls the tool “Scanny.” Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
Commitment to innovation
“This new pipeline inspection tool is a prime example of the Water Authority’s commitment to innovation that benefits ratepayers by saving money and enhancing reliability,” said Water Authority General Manager Sandra L. Kerl. “We have a long history of advancing industry-leading solutions, from state legislation to adopt low-flow toilets in the early 1990s to the nation’s largest water conservation-and-transfer program a decade later to the largest seawater desalination plant on the continent.”
Rebates and water conservation
The third most-viewed story detailed the California state tax breaks available and rebates to remove grass and save money, as California edged into the fourth consecutive year of drought:
A newly signed state law exempts local rebates for grass replacement from state income tax, ensuring more dollars can be spent creating beautiful and functional WaterSmart yards.
“Drought conditions make it imperative to boost water conservation in San Diego County and across the state,” said Sandra L. Kerl, general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority. “Using California tax incentives and regional rebates to install WaterSmart landscapes is a clear winner for stretching water supplies both today and for generations to come.”
San Diego County residents can take advantage of savings on water-saving technologies such as high-efficiency clothes washers & toilets, rain barrels — and can schedule free #WaterSmart checkups to make their properties more water-efficient.https://t.co/yFi2DgXixS
— San Diego County Water Authority (@sdcwa) October 16, 2022
The WNN feature story alerted homeowners and businesses in San Diego County that they are eligible to receive between $2 and $4 per square foot for removing grass and replacing it with low water-use plants that are better suited to withstand the hot and dry conditions that continue to hammer the West. All customers are eligible for the base rebate of $2 per square foot, but other agencies offer additional funding, including the City of San Diego and the County of San Diego.
Check latest rebates here: your-water/conservation/residential-rebates-programs
Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant
Reverse osmosis is the heart of the Carlsbad Desalination Plant. During this process, dissolved salt and other minerals are separated from the water, making it fit for consumption. This reverse osmosis building contains more than 2,000 pressure vessels housing more than 16,000 reverse osmosis membranes. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
Drought-proof supply
Coming in as the 4th most popular story on the WNN in 2022 was the benefit of seawater desalination providing a drought-proof supply for San Diego County:
As the worst drought in 1,200 years grips the West, the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant is protecting the San Diego region with 50 million gallons a day of drought-proof water.
Completed in 2015, the plant was built before the period of increasing inflation that’s driving up prices for water infrastructure projects that are just starting. That means the desal plant is safeguarding the region’s economy and quality of life today at a lower cost than it would be to build now.
The Carlsbad Desalination Plant uses reverse osmosis to produce approximately 10% of the region’s water supply; it is a core supply regardless of weather conditions, and it is blended with water from other sources for regional distribution. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
100 billion gallons
“Desalination remains a valuable tool for our community when it comes to ensuring safe and reliable water supplies no matter the weather,” said Jeremy Crutchfield, water resources manager for the Water Authority. “It has shown its value by generating nearly 90 billion gallons over the past six years, and I’m confident it will continue to do so in the years ahead.”
In late-October 2022, the Carlsbad Desalination Plant passed a milestone, having served more than 100 billion gallons of high-quality, locally controlled water over the past seven years – as California entered a fourth consecutive year of severe drought.
(Editor’s Note: Click on the years to see the most viewed stories from 2019, 2020, and 2021. The Otay Water District is one of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across San Diego County.)
Sweetwater Authority Logo 2019Work for Water Scholarship Awarded to Local Aspiring Water Industry Pros
Chula Vista, Calif. – At last night’s meeting, the Sweetwater Authority Governing Board awarded the Work for Water Scholarship to two local students. David Inchaurregui Jr. of Chula Vista and Kassandra Beltran of National City were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship to support their career goals of working in the water industry.
Vista Irrigation District Recognizes Scholarship Winners and Student Artists
The Vista Irrigation District awarded college scholarships to seven high school seniors selected as winners of the district’s annual scholarship contest. Three fourth-grade students from the local community were also selected as winners of the district‑sponsored Student Poster Art Contest.
Vista Irrigation District Recognizes Scholarship Winners and Student Artists
The Vista Irrigation District awarded college scholarships to seven high school seniors selected as winners of the district’s annual scholarship contest. Three fourth-grade students from the local community were also selected as winners of the district‑sponsored Student Poster Art Contest.
Emilie Taylor received a $2,500 scholarship, Samantha Bailey received a $2,000 scholarship, and Abigayle Paliotti received a $1,500 scholarship. All three scholarship winners are graduating seniors at Rancho Buena Vista High School. Runners-up Mateo Sulejmani, Jennifer Galan, and Kenneth Morales Reyes who also attend Rancho Buena Vista High School, and Grace Koumaras from Mission Vista High School, each received $1,000 as runners-up in the scholarship competition.
The scholarship contest is intended to increase the knowledge and awareness of water-related issues impacting the Vista Irrigation District. High school seniors living or attending school within the district’s service area are eligible. Students had to submit an essay and provide a personal statement related to their background and/or goals. Selection criteria also included community involvement or volunteer service, and letters of recommendation from high school faculty.
Poster contest winners promote water awareness
The annual poster contest is designed to promote understanding of water issues in elementary schools. This year’s theme was “Love Water, Save Water.” The three winning posters were selected from 176 entries based upon their depiction of the theme, artwork, originality, and poster design.
First Place: Sophia Puckett, Empresa Elementary School. Photo: Vista Irrigation District
Sophia Puckett, a fourth-grade student from Empresa Elementary School, is the 2022 first-place winner in the Vista Irrigation District 2022 Water Awareness Poster Contest. Sophia received a $100 award.
Second Place: Stevie Jones, Casita Center. Photo: Vista Irrigation District
Stevie Jones from Casita Center received a second-place award of $50.
Third Place: Valeria Martinez, Elementary School. Photo: Vista Irrigation District
Valeria Martinez from Hannalei Elementary School received a third-place award of $25 for her entry.
Sophia Puckett with her award-winning artwork. Photo: Vista Irrigation District
Sophia’s poster will appear in the 2023 Water Awareness Calendar, available free of charge at the district’s office in November 2022.
(Editor’s note: The Vista Irrigation District is one of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the metropolitan San Diego region.)
High School Students Invited to Enter Special Districts Video Contest
San Diego County high school students whose Instagram Reels and TikTok skills impress their friends can put them to good use and earn scholarship money for their efforts.
The 2022 California Special Districts Association San Diego Chapter video scholarship competition is open through the end of April. The annual “Districts Make The Difference” contest promotes public awareness and understanding of the special districts providing communities with essential services like water, sanitation, healthcare, fire protection, and parks.
High School Students Invited to Enter Special Districts Video Contest
San Diego County high school students whose Instagram Reels and TikTok skills impress their friends can put them to good use and earn scholarship money for their efforts.
The 2022 California Special Districts Association San Diego Chapter video scholarship competition is open through the end of April. The annual “Districts Make The Difference” contest promotes public awareness and understanding of the special districts providing communities with essential services like water, sanitation, healthcare, fire protection, and parks.
In 2019, San Marcos High School student Jordan Chan’s winning video featured a Wild West time travel theme to illustrate the importance and variety of special districts serving San Marcos and other California communities, including the Vallecitos Water District.
Watch Chan’s winning video
Rules for 2022 Special District video contest entries
Entrants must attend a San Diego County, high school. The video should be 60 seconds long and educate the public about any aspect of how special districts make a difference in their everyday lives. Videos can highlight the following content areas:
- A unique program, service, or infrastructure project that a special district is currently promoting.
- How an individual, a group of individuals, or a community is affected by special districts.
- How special districts are formed and how they can provide essential services to the community.
Special districts are local government organizations formed by communities to provide essential services like drinking water, parks, or fire protection. San Diego County’s 24 member water agencies are special districts. There are more than 30,000 special districts across the U.S. Students can learn more about special districts in San Diego County at the California Special District Association (CSDA) San Diego Chapter website.
San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones presents winner Jordan Chan with a certificate of appreciation at the Vallecitos Water District’s February board meeting. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Helix Water District Board President Kathleen Coates Hedberg and the San Diego Chapter of the California Special Districts Association launched the original video contest. It grew into a statewide competition.
Videos can be submitted straight from a phone or uploaded from a computer. Entrants will upload their video to YouTube, marked as “unlisted,” and provide the link in their application.
The video submission window will be open until April 30, 2022. The San Diego Chapter CSDA “Districts Make the Difference” judging committee will choose the top ten finalists. At the end of May, winners will be announced and receive $1,500 for the first-place winner, $1,000 for the second-place winner, and $500 for the third-place winner.
The video entries will be scored on the following criteria: incorporating the theme “How San Diego Special Districts Make a Difference,” creativity and originality, entertainment value, the accuracy of information, effectiveness and value of information, and production quality.
See more winning videos and learn more about special districts at DistrictsMaketheDifference.org.
(Editor’s note: The Vallecitos Water District and the Helix Water District are two of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the metropolitan San Diego region.)
College Scholarships Offered for Water Industry Education
Multiple California water associations and water agencies in San Diego County are offering college scholarships to help candidates achieve their goals.
A large number of recent retirements combined with the need for a skilled workforce up to date on new technologies have resulted in a critical need to increase the talent pool of skilled individuals in the water and wastewater industry, including in San Diego County.
Scholarships are available for community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, and graduate-level programs.
