ALEXANDRIA, VA, May 1, 2008 -- The Water Environment Federation (WEF) proudly announces the 2008 state winners of the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) -- the most prestigious youth award for a water-related science project. WEF Member Associations selected and will sponsor state winners and their science teachers to attend the national competition, hosted by the Florida Water Environment Association, June 19-21, 2008, in Orlando, Florida.
The purpose of the SJWP program is to increase students' interest in water-related issues and research and to raise awareness about global water challenges. The competition is open to projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life through improvement of water quality, water resources management, water protection, and water and wastewater treatment.
"Leadership is what separates communities that are successfully addressing water and sanitation needs from those that are not," said WEF Executive Director Bill Bertera. "The Stockholm Junior Water Prize continues to be an excellent program for helping today's youth become the global leaders we'll need to protect our water resources into the future."
The U.S. winner will receive $3,000 (USD) and an all-expense-paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden, for the international competition as well as the opportunity to present their research to water quality experts at WEFTEC®.08 - the Federation's 81st annual technical exhibition and conference - in Chicago, Illinois, this October. In addition, the U.S. winner's school will receive $1,000 toward enhancing science education and up to three finalists will receive $1,000 each.
In the United States, WEF and its Member Associations organize the national, state, and regional SJWP competitions with support from ITT Corporation (also the international sponsor), The Coca-Cola Company, and Delta Air Lines.
The national winner will represent the United States at the international competition in Stockholm, Sweden, during World Water Week, August 17-23, 2008. The international winner will receive $5,000 (USD) presented during a royal ceremony by the prize's Patron HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.
For a list of state winners, see: http://www.wef.org/NewsCenter/05012008.htm
Formed in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with more than 34,000 individual members and 81 affiliated Member Associations representing an additional 50,000 water quality professionals throughout the world.
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