Georgia Association of Water Professionals Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Georgia Association of Water Professionals

Overview
The Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) manages three distinct scholarship funds and distributes eight scholarships annually to support students pursuing education or training after high school. The organization’s Scholarship Committee oversees the selection and administration of these awards.

Application timeline and evaluation
- Applications are accepted beginning December 1 each year and must be received by February 28.
- Submissions are judged using criteria approved by the GAWP Board of Directors. Evaluation factors include GAWP membership (except where noted below), academic performance, extracurricular and community involvement, and essays when required (specifically for the H2Opportunity and Philip R. Karr, III scholarships).

GAWP Undergraduate Scholarship
- Award: $2,000 per year. Renewable for up to three additional years, subject to meeting renewal requirements.
- Membership: Applicant or the applicant’s parent/guardian must hold an active individual GAWP membership.
- Eligibility:
- High school graduate from an accredited school, or provide evidence that graduation will occur before August 1 of the award year.
- Funds must be used for full-time undergraduate education or an accredited training program (university, community college, technical school, etc.). No restriction on field of study.
- Selection will consider college preparatory credentials (e.g., GPA).

GAWP Frontline Undergraduate Scholarship
- Purpose: Created to support frontline water industry workers and their children in pursuing undergraduate education that leads to a career in the water profession.
- History: Established in 2005.
- Award: $2,000 annually. Renewable for up to three years, contingent on renewal criteria. One award is made each year.
- Membership/employment: Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian must be either an employee of a GAWP Utility or Corporate Member, or hold an active individual GAWP membership.
- Employment level: Applicant or parent/guardian should occupy a non-management, non-engineering (frontline) role (examples: operator, superintendent, lab technician, customer service specialist, CAD operator). If a small utility uses a “management” title for a frontline role, that person may still be eligible; the Scholarship Committee will determine eligibility.
- Application items:
- Provide a brief description of the frontline position.
- A recommendation from a representative of the employing Utility or Corporate Member is encouraged.
- High school graduation (or proof that graduation will occur before August 1 of the award year).
- Funds must be used for full-time undergraduate education or training at accredited institutions. No restriction on course of study.

GAWP Graduate Scholarship
- History: Established in 2003.
- Award: $2,000 (one-time). Non-renewable, though previous recipients may apply again in later years.
- Membership: Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian must hold an active individual GAWP membership.
- Eligibility:
- Graduate of an accredited college/university, or verify graduation will occur before August 1 of the award year.
- Funds must be used for full-time graduate study at an accredited college or university. No restriction on field of study.
- Selection will consider academic credentials (e.g., GPA).

H2Opportunity Scholarship
- History: Created in 2008 to encourage students entering water-related fields.
- Award: $2,000 (one-time). Non-renewable, but recipients may reapply in subsequent years. The recipient is expected to take part in at least one GAWP-sponsored event.
- Membership: No GAWP membership requirement. For applicants not entering a four-year program, SAT/ACT scores are not required.
- Eligibility:
- High school graduate, or demonstrate graduation will occur before August 1 of the award year.
- Recommended (but not required) water-related work experience or internship.
- Applicant must be a Georgia resident, or entering/attending a college, university or training school located in Georgia.
- Funds must support full-time undergraduate education or accredited training leading to a career in the water profession (including technical trades).
- Required: Short essay (maximum 1,500 words) describing the applicant’s interest in and intended course of study leading to a career in the water profession, including technical trades.

William J. Greene, Jr. Scholarship
- History: Established in 1995 to honor William J. Greene, Jr.; first awarded in 1997 following his induction into the AWWA Water Industry Hall of Fame.
- Award: $2,000 per year. Renewable for up to three years if renewal requirements are met.
- Membership: Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian must hold an active individual GAWP membership.
- Eligibility:
- High school graduate, or confirm graduation will occur before August 1 of the award year.
- Funds must be used to support full-time study at the Georgia Institute of Technology. No limitation on major or field of study.

Greene Frontline Scholarship
- Purpose: Created in memory of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Greene to support frontline workers and their children in undergraduate studies.
- Award: $2,000 annually. Renewable for up to three years, subject to renewal criteria. One award is made each year.
- Eligibility and application requirements mirror the GAWP Frontline Undergraduate Scholarship:
- Applicant or parent/guardian employed by a GAWP Utility or Corporate Member, or holds an active individual GAWP membership.
- Applicant or parent/guardian must be in a non-management, non-engineering position; include a brief job description.
- Recommendation from a representative of the Utility or Corporate Member is encouraged.
- High school graduation (or proof graduation will occur before August 1).
- Funds for full-time undergraduate education or accredited training at recognized institutions. No restriction on course of study.

Philip R. Karr, III Scholarship
- History: Created in 1996 by friends of Dr. Philip R. Karr, III to recognize his leadership and contributions to water system management and treatment; first awarded in 1997.
- Award: $2,000. Renewable for one additional year if renewal requirements are met.
- Membership: Individual GAWP membership is not required.
- Eligibility:
- Applicant must be a Georgia resident, or entering/attending a graduate program at a Georgia college or university.
- Graduate of an accredited college/university, or provide evidence graduation will occur before August 1 of the award year.
- Funds must be used for full-time graduate study in areas such as environmental engineering, water resources, water quality, or related fields.
- Required: Short essay (maximum 1,500 words) explaining professional goals in the relevant fields and how the scholarship will be used.
- Selection will consider academic credentials (e.g., GPA). Applicants may be interviewed by the GAWP Scholarship Committee.

Skilled Trades Scholarship
- History: Established in 2025 to support students entering high-demand skilled trade professions through vocational, technical, or trade education programs.
- Award: $2,000. Renewable for one additional 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 demonstrate that graduation will occur before August 1 of the award year.
- Funds must be used to support vocational/technical studies or an accredited training program.
- Open to any trade-based field of study; preference may be given to applicants pursuing water-related trades.
- Additional selection considerations:
- Community or school volunteer involvement and extracurricular participation.
- Relevant work experience or internships.
- Letters of recommendation from teachers, employers, or mentors.
- Personal statement (100–150 words) explaining the applicant’s motivation for choosing the trade.
- SAT/ACT scores are neither required nor considered.
- GPA is not considered in selection.

Contact and administration
The GAWP Scholarship Committee administers the program. Applicants should ensure their materials are complete and submitted by the February 28 deadline for consideration under the Board-approved criteria.