Student Affairs Committee

Carolynn Zebrowski
carolynn.zebrowski@hatchmott.com
732-333-3267

What do we do?

We act as the liaison between AWWA NJ and New Jersey’s 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 Poster Contest - See flyer, here.

Elementary School Poster Contest - See application form, here.

College Scholarships

Speaking Engagements/Presentations (see below)

Student/Professional Mentor Program (see below)

Scholarship program

During Drinking Water Week (May 6-12, 2012) we will be awarding scholarships of $2,500 to three deserving students, based on their interest in the field of drinking water and pursuit of a career in the drinking water industry. The winning candidates also receive free one-year student membership to AWWA, and automatic placement into the AWWA New Jersey Section Student/Professional mentorship program. Refer to the Scholarship summary below for details or contact Brian Carr for additional information.

Drinking Water Continuing Education Scholarship
The Drinking Water Continuing Education Scholarship is offered to a deserving New Jersey High School Student in his or her senior year. Eligible applicants must be applying or accepted to an in-state or out-of-state 2-year college, 4-year college, vocational/ technical school or trade school for the 2012-2013 school year. Applicants are required to provide an essay describing their interest in pursuing an educational path that will lead to a career in the drinking water industry and how they plan to achieve their career goals.

Deadline for Continuing Education Scholarship application submittal: May 1, 2012
Download scholarship application form

 

Drinking Water Careers Scholarship
The Drinking Water Careers Scholarship is offered to a deserving undergraduate student entering his or her sophomore, junior, or senior year. Eligible applicants must be a full-time student in a New Jersey College/University or a New Jersey Resident in an out-of-state College/University for the 2012-2013 school year. Applicants are required to provide an essay describing their interest in pursuing an educational path that will lead to a career in the drinking water industry and how they plan to achieve their career goals.

Deadline for Careers Scholarship application submittal: May 1, 2012
Download scholarship application form

 

Family Drinking Water Career Scholarship
The Family Drinking Water Careers Scholarship is offered to a deserving child of a New Jersey Section member entering his or her freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior year, attend graduate school, or attend trade school. Eligible applicants must be a full-time student in a 2-year or 4-year New Jersey College/University, a New Jersey Resident in an out-of-state College/University, or attend a vocational/technical or trade school for the 2012-2013 school year. Applicants are required to provide an essay describing their interest in pursuing an educational path that will lead to a career in the drinking water industry and how they plan to achieve their career goals. Applicants must also provide proof that their parent is an active AWWA New Jersey Section member.

Deadline for Family Drinking Water Career Scholarship application submittal: May 1, 2012
Download scholarship application form

 

College Student Poster Competition

Each 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 and design projects. 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 Carolynn Zebrowski for additional information.

Deadline for submitting abstracts: March 9, 2012
Download college poster contest application form

Competition Date and Location: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 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 Alexandra Wells for more information.

Deadline for elementary student poster submittal: April 6, 2012
Download elementary student poster contest application form

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 Chair Carolynn Zebrowski 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 Chair Carolynn Zebrowski 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 Career Scholarships.
  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.