AWWA Scholarship Program

Applications for all 2026 – 2027 scholarships are now open through December 20, 2025.

The Water Equation Scholarships program supports students and operators at the beginning of their work in water. Scholarships are available through AWWA, corporate partners, and our Water Operator Continuing Education Fund.

Please click below to log in to your AWWA account. If you do not yet have an account, you will need to sign up to create one to complete your application.

To learn more about more about continuing education opportunities available through your local section, click here.

AWWA Scholarships

AWWA Abel Wolman Fellowship

Established in 1984, this Fellowship is named after Dr. Abel Wolman. The endowment was established to assist highly qualified students who continue meaningful research in water supply through doctoral programs. This award of excellence recognizes those whose careers in the water sector exemplify the vision, creativity, and excellent professional performance characteristic of Wolman’s long and productive career. The applicant’s work must exemplify vision, creativity, and excellence, and must have had a recognizable impact on the professionalism of the industry.

The Abel Wolman Fellowship supports promising students in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico who are pursuing advanced training and research in the field of water supply and treatment. To accomplish this objective, a doctoral fellowship provides up to two years of support, awarded annually to the most outstanding student. The initial award for one year is $30,000, with a second year of support available.

AWWA Dr. James K. Edzwald Scholarship

This award was established in 2023 in honor of Dr. James K. Edzwald to recognize an outstanding graduate student pursuing research on documenting climate change effects on water quality and treatment and/or resilient treatment methods pertaining to supplies with algae, Cyanobacteria, natural organic matter, and/or contaminants of emerging concern to the drinking water industry. The scholarship will provide $6,000 in these topics with preference to a graduate student whose application emphasizes career goals of serving the water field.

AWWA Larson Aquatic Research Support Scholarships

AWWA administers the LARS scholarships annually to honor the memory of Dr. Thurston E. Larson. The scholarships provide support and encouragement to outstanding graduate students preparing for careers in the fields of science or engineering to which Dr. Larson made significant contributions. These endowed scholarships provide support for two students annually. For a master’s student, the funding is $5,000, and for a doctoral student, the funding is $7,000.

AWWA Dr. Philip C. Singer Scholarship

This award was established in 2020 in honor of Dr. Philip C. Singer to recognize an outstanding graduate student pursuing research on topics related to drinking water quality, environmental science, and public health. The scholarship will provide $6,000 to a student who is pursuing research that will provide actionable and timely outcomes to address current challenges faced by the water industry.

Corporate Scholarships

AECOM Academic Scholarship

The AECOM $5,000 academic scholarship funds a graduate student pursuing an engineering degree in innovative solutions to improve drinking water in urban communities.

American Water Scholarship

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. This $5,000 scholarship provides funding to a graduate level student.

Brown & Caldwell – Dave Caldwell Scholarships

The $5,000 Dave Caldwell Scholarship was established in recognition of Brown & Caldwell co-founder Dave Caldwell. Brown & Caldwell safeguards water, maintaining infrastructure, and restoring habitats to keep our communities thriving.

The Dave Caldwell Scholarship is a competitive, merit-based scholarship awarded annually to an undergraduate or graduate (Masters or PhD) student with a demonstrated interest in water induction, including maintaining infrastructure and restoring habitats.

Carollo Engineers Bryant L. Bench Scholarship

This $10,000 scholarship was established in honor of Carollo Engineers’ Water Practice Director Bryant L. Bench, who combined elegant engineering with innovative concepts like managed filtration to improve drinking water quality for millions across the country. This scholarship is intended to assist graduate students who continue to pursue their passion for water as they work toward the consulting engineering profession.

CDM Smith Thomas R. Camp Scholarship

CDM Smith honors co-founder Dr. Thomas R. Camp with this $10,000 scholarship to encourage outstanding graduate students conducting applied research in the drinking water field.

GFT Forces of Change Scholarship

GFT is proud to offer a $5,000 academic scholarship to an undergraduate or graduate (Masters or PhD) engineering student who has a passion for engineering the future of the water industry.

There is a simple truth that underpins the importance of our outreach to you, the next generation of water professionals: you will solve the most pressing infrastructure issues of our time. We are proud to partner with you.

Hazen and Sawyer Scholarship

Hazen and Sawyer engineers and scientists focus on solving our clients’ most pressing challenges, through innovation, creativity, quality, and an unwavering commitment to protecting human health and the environment. The $10,000 Hazen and Sawyer Scholarship (the “Hazen Scholarship”) will be awarded annually to a graduate level candidate who reflects these values and is committed to leading the industry by advancing solutions to today’s most pressing challenges in the fields of drinking water, water reuse, and water resources.

HDR One Water Institute Scholarship

HDR’s One Water Institute drives water innovations through collaborative research. Its namesake scholarship provides $10,000 in funding to assist a graduate student work towards a degree that will support their career as a consultant in the water industry.

Jacobs Holly A. Cornell Scholarship

The Holly A. Cornell Scholarship was created in 1990 and sponsored by Jacobs/CH2M honors co-founder Holly A. Cornell. This scholarship is open to graduate students interested in water supply and treatment and who were first generation college graduates at the time of entering graduate school, or who have experienced economic disadvantage, or who otherwise have overcome significant barriers to education. This scholarship is in the amount of $10,000.

Mueller Water Products Continuing Education Scholarship

Mueller Water Products Continuing Education scholarship awards $5,000 to an undergraduate student who is employed by a water utility.

Mueller Water Products HBCU Scholarship

This scholarship offered by Mueller Water Projects awards an undergraduate student enrolled in an accredited and recognized historically black college or university pursuing a career that benefits the water sector.

Neptune Technology Group Scholarship

Neptune Technology Group Inc. supports a $5,000 scholarship for an undergraduate student seeking a degree in mechanical, electrical, computer, or software engineering.

Raftelis Leadership Scholarship

Raftelis offers two leadership scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students interested in a consulting career. The Raftelis Leadership Scholarships were established with the goal of supporting and growing relationships with promising students who have an interest in becoming problem solvers for local governments and municipal water utilities. Students with diverse backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply. The successful applicants will have proven leadership ability and strong academic achievement. Although a specific major is not required, students who have a major in business, finance, communications, public affairs, economics, marketing, and government relations are aligned with the types of majors many of our employees have. Above all, we are looking for well rounded students with initiative and experience that they would like to share with our company and our clients. This scholarship is in the amount of $5,000 each.

Roberts Filter Group – Charles “Chick” Roberts Scholarship

This $5,000 scholarship offered by Roberts Filter Group recognizes an undergraduate or graduate (Masters or PhD) student studying water technologies in Pennsylvania.

Stantec Scholarship

Stantec sponsors this scholarship to assist a student enrolled in an Engineering Master’s or PhD program focused on developing innovative, forward-thinking solutions to water treatment challenges.

Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions Vernon D. Lucy III Scholarship

The Vernon D. Lucy III Scholarship was established to honor his lengthy career and involvement in the water industry and many years of mentorship to young industry professionals. This $5,000 award is offered to undergraduate students interested in working in the water sector.

Woodard & Curran Scholarship

The Woodard & Curran Scholarship is a competitive merit-based $5,000 scholarship awarded annually to an undergraduate or graduate student with a demonstrated focus on drinking water, industrial water, municipal wastewater, flood mitigation/stormwater, water resources, or water reuse, with preference given to students who have experienced economic disadvantage or otherwise overcome significant barriers to education.

Clean water is the lifeblood of every community. At Woodard & Curran, we are specialists helping the public and private sectors treat, use, and reuse water through an integrated approach to science, engineering, design-build, and operations.

Apply For the Scholarship Selection Committee

Water Equation is seeking volunteers to assist with selecting academic scholarship recipients. Committee members will be asked to read between five to 10 applications utilizing an application platform called Award Spring.

In addition, committees will meet at least once to finalize the selection and forward to the recommendation for final acceptance. Training for the committees will occur on January 6, 2026, with final recommendation dues February 13, 2026.

For any questions, please contact Margo Hatton, Sr Manager-Donor Relations and Development, at mhatton@awwa.org.

Apply Now

Water Operator Continuing Education Fund

The Water Operator Continuing Education Fund supports water and wastewater operators with continuing education, certification, training, and conference attendance through AWWA Water Equation’s partnership with local AWWA Sections. Scholarships are available throughout the year and payable to the educational institution.

If you are a water operator or a section please click Apply Now.

To finalize your application, you will need to enter the code WOE.

Apply Now

YP Utility Scholarships

AWWA and WEF will each award five scholarships (10 in total) to young professionals employed by a water utility in North America. AWWA Water Equation offers this application to young professionals at a water utility. AWWA membership is not required.

Scholarship recipients will be notified by January 6, 2026. Each scholarship awarded by Water Equation will provide free registration to the 2026 YP Summit and reimburse the recipient for up to $2,000 in travel expenses to the event. Travel expense guidelines will be provided. Awardees are expected to participate in the YP Summit.

Enter code YPS to apply.

If you have questions, please contact Mary Svoboda at yp@awwa.org.

Apply Now