Annual Conference Information
 

          Sponsors

 

Student Affairs Committee

Brian F Carr P.E.
Bcarr@middlesexwater.com
Middlesex Water Company, 1500 Ronson Road, Iselin, New Jersey 08830

732-634-1500 x101, Fax: 732-638-7536

What do we do?

We act as the liaison between AWWA NJ and New Jerseys education community. We provide outreach to all NJ students with programs, contests, support and mentoring in order to promote careers in safe drinking water.

What’s new with the Student Affairs Committee?

College Scholarships - See scholarship application form for 2010, here.

College Poster Contest - See our application form, here.

Elementary School Poster Contest - Please see the application form, here.

Speaking Engagements/Presentations (see below)

Student/Professional Mentor Program (see below)

Scholarship program

Every year, during Drinking Water Week (typically early May) we award a scholarship of $1,500 to an undergraduate student, based on his or her interest in the field of drinking water, and on scholastic merit. The winning candidate also receives a year’s free membership to AWWA, and automatic placement into our mentorship program. Please contact Chairman Brian Carr for more information. See scholarship application form for 2010, here.

Deadline for scholarship application submittal: May 1, 2010

College student poster contest

Every year at the AWWA NJ Annual Conference in Atlantic City, students from New Jersey colleges and universities compete for cash prizes and the recognition of their peers, in a presentation of their own research work. Judging categories are provided separately for graduate and undergraduate students. Perhaps most importantly, this program provides a first step for students to expose their research work to a wider universe of industry professionals and full-time research practitioners. Please contact Pat Cole for additional information. See our application form, here.

Deadline for submitting abstracts: March 1, 2010

Competition Date and Location: April 14, 2010 at the Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City

Elementary student poster contest

Perhaps our favorite program! Every year AWWA NJ sponsors a contest among New Jersey's elementary school students, to find out which classroom can produce the posters that best illustrate the annual Drinking Water Week theme. Prizes are awarded for best poster in grade categories K-1, 2-3, and 4-5. Additionally, a pizza party is provided to the classroom with the most participants. AWWA NJ can (and has many times in the past) provided a short presentation on the subject water (example: explaining the water cycle) during the pizza party, suitable for elementary school students. Please contact Ed Gajek for more information.

See the application form, here.

Deadline for elementary student poster submittal: April 28, 2010

Speaking engagements

As a professor or program administrator – you desire a speaker to present theory and/or field experience on a proven technical practice, or an emerging technology. AWWA NJ members have some of the very best minds in the environmental industry. We can provide professional speakers, who are suitable for practically any situation related to water education, including topic-specific experts: men and women who are defining the very state of the art in water treatment, distribution, water quality, and overall system operations.

Upon request, AWWA NJ provides speakers of interest to every level of student, from grade school to graduate studies at the college level. Our presenters are experienced in tailoring a message suited to audience age and education level. We have presented on broad environmental subjects, focused technical topics, and in support of humanitarian organizations including Water for People. Please contact Chairman Brian Carr with requests for speakers.

Mentorship program

As a student in the field of engineering, chemistry, biology or environmental science, you may ask – could a career in the water industry be right for me? Perhaps a helpful first step is to participate in our mentorship program. We pair motivated students with professionals whose careers span the spectrum of the industry: civil and mechanical design, construction, treatment and distribution operations, water quality, corporate administration, and even environmental law. Now more than ever our industry recognizes the importance of transferring knowledge and expertise to the next generation of professionals.

We administer an ongoing program which pairs motivated students with experience professionals from throughout New Jersey’s water industry. The program includes one meeting per semester between mentor and student in a relaxed, casual atmosphere to help understand our working environment, and (more importantly) to assist students in shaping educational goals and setting path toward productive employment after graduation. Please contact Chairman Brian Carr to submit your resume for participation the mentorship program.

Priority tasks (from Strategic Plan)

  1. Develop a plan to support existing student chapters and to establish new student chapters at New Jersey colleges.
  2. Continue to develop programs to promote the water industry to college students. Include road shows to discuss hot topics in the industry.
  3. Expand awareness of the water industry to the elementary and high school levels. Seek to develop and maintain alliances with the NJ Educational Association and other New Jersey educational organizations.
  4. Continue and expand the internship and student job placement programs.
  5. Administer the AWWA NJ Drinking Water Careers Scholarship.
  6. Work with the Research and Technology Transfer Committee to encourage more colleges to do water research in New Jersey.
  7. Encourage students to pursue internships with companies within the Section.