Georgia Association of Water Professionals Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Georgia Association of Water Professionals

Overview
The Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) operates three distinct scholarship funds and grants eight scholarships annually to help qualified students pursue post–high school education and training. The GAWP Scholarship Committee oversees this program.

Application period and evaluation
Applications are accepted beginning December 1 each year and must be received by February 28. Submissions are judged according to standards adopted by the GAWP Board of Directors. Those standards consider GAWP membership (except for the H2Opportunity and Philip R. Karr, III scholarships), academic achievement, extracurricular and community involvement, and—for the H2Opportunity and Philip R. Karr, III awards—a short essay.

Scholarships (amounts, renewability, and eligibility)
Note: All awards listed below are $2,000 unless otherwise stated.

1) GAWP Undergraduate Scholarship
- Award: $2,000 per year.
- Renewable: Up to three years if renewal requirements are met.
- Membership: Applicant or the applicant’s parent/guardian must hold an active, individual GAWP membership.
- Eligibility:
- Graduate of an accredited high school, or able to show graduation will occur before August 1 of the award year.
- Funds must be used for full‑time undergraduate education or a recognized training program (university, community or junior college, technical school, etc.).
- Selection emphasis: college credentials (for example, GPA).

2) GAWP Frontline Undergraduate Scholarship
- Purpose: For frontline industry workers and their children; supports full‑time undergraduate/training programs leading to careers in the water profession.
- Award: $2,000 annually.
- Renewable: Up to three years if renewal criteria are satisfied.
- Background: Established in 2005. “Frontline” refers to non‑management positions (examples: operators, superintendents, laboratory technicians, customer service staff, CAD operators). Management and engineering roles (e.g., division managers, engineers, utility directors) are excluded. In small utilities where job titles may not reflect management responsibility, eligibility will be considered accordingly.
- Eligibility:
- Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian must be employed by a GAWP Utility or Corporate Member, or hold an active individual GAWP membership.
- The employee must occupy a non‑management, non‑engineering role; a brief description of the position is required.
- A recommendation from a representative of the Utility/Corporate Member is encouraged.
- Graduate of an accredited high school, or demonstrate graduation before August 1 of the award year.
- Funds used for full‑time undergraduate education or recognized training programs.
- Additional: Applicants who meet the membership requirement may also apply for the general GAWP Undergraduate Scholarship. Final eligibility determinations for this scholarship rest with the Scholarship Committee.

3) GAWP Graduate Scholarship
- Award: $2,000.
- Renewable: Non‑renewable in the same award year; past recipients may reapply in later years.
- Membership: Applicant or the applicant’s parent/guardian must hold an active, individual GAWP membership.
- Eligibility:
- Graduate of an accredited college/university, or able to demonstrate graduation before August 1 of the award year.
- Funds must support full‑time graduate study in an accredited graduate program (no restriction on field of study).
- Selection based on college credentials (for example, GPA).

4) H2Opportunity Scholarship
- Purpose: For undergraduates entering fields that lead to careers in the water profession.
- Award: $2,000.
- Renewable: Non‑renewable in the same award year; recipients may apply again in subsequent years.
- Established: 2008.
- Expectations: Recipient is expected to participate in at least one GAWP‑sponsored event.
- Eligibility:
- No GAWP membership required.
- For applicants not entering a four‑year program, SAT/ACT scores are not required.
- Graduate of an accredited high school, or able to show graduation before August 1 of the award year.
- Georgia residency or enrollment in a college, university, or training school located in Georgia.
- Work experience or internships in a water‑related field are recommended but not mandatory.
- Funds must be used for full‑time undergraduate study or recognized training program leading to a water profession career.
- A short essay (maximum 1,500 words) is required describing the applicant’s interest in and planned course of study toward a water‑related career.

5) William J. Greene, Jr. Scholarship
- Background: Created in 1995 to honor William J. Greene, Jr. following his induction into the AWWA Water Industry Hall of Fame; first awarded in 1997.
- Award: $2,000 per year.
- Renewable: Up to three years, subject to renewal criteria.
- Eligibility:
- Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian must hold an active, individual GAWP membership.
- Graduate of an accredited high school, or able to show graduation before August 1 of the award year.
- Funds must be used to support a student attending the Georgia Institute of Technology as a full‑time student (no restriction on major).

6) Greene Frontline Scholarship
- Purpose: Established in memory of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Greene; supports undergraduate studies for frontline employees and their children.
- Award: $2,000 annually.
- Renewable: Up to three years if renewal criteria are met.
- Eligibility:
- Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian must be employed by a GAWP Utility or Corporate Member, or hold an active individual GAWP membership.
- Employee must be in a non‑management, non‑engineering position and provide a brief description of duties.
- A recommendation from a Utility/Corporate Member representative is encouraged.
- Graduate of an accredited high school, or able to show graduation before August 1 of the award year.
- Funds must be used for full‑time undergraduate education or recognized training programs (no restriction on course of study).

7) Philip R. Karr, III Scholarship
- Background: Created in 1996 by colleagues of Dr. Philip R. Karr, III in recognition of his leadership in public water system management and operation; first awarded in 1997.
- Award: $2,000.
- Renewable: Renewable for one additional year if renewal criteria are met.
- Eligibility:
- Individual GAWP membership is not required.
- Applicant must be a Georgia resident or be entering/attending a graduate program located in Georgia.
- Graduate of an accredited college/university, or able to show graduation before August 1 of the award year.
- Funds must support full‑time graduate study in fields such as environmental engineering, water resources, water quality, or related areas.
- A short essay (maximum 1,500 words) is required outlining professional goals in the relevant fields and intended use of the scholarship.
- Selection will consider college credentials (for example, GPA); applicants may be interviewed by the Scholarship Committee.

8) Skilled Trades Scholarship
- Background: Launched in 2025 to support students pursuing vocational, technical, or trade education aimed at high‑demand skilled trades.
- Award: $2,000.
- Renewable: Renewable for one year.
- Eligibility:
- Applicant must be a resident of Georgia.
- Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian must hold an active, individual GAWP membership.
- Applicant must have a GED or high school diploma, or be able to show they will graduate before August 1 of the award year.
- Funds must be used for vocational/technical/trade training programs.
- Open to any trade field; preference is given to applicants pursuing water‑related trades.
- Additional selection considerations:
- Volunteer and extracurricular involvement.
- Work experience or internships in the chosen trade.
- Letters of recommendation from teachers, employers, or mentors.
- A concise personal statement (100–150 words) explaining the applicant’s motivation for the chosen trade.
- SAT/ACT scores are neither required nor considered.
- GPA is not considered in the selection for this scholarship.

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