WSSC Water accepting local applications for $2,000 scholarships

WSSC Water, a Maryland-based water services provider, has opened its 2023 Commissioners Engineering Scholarship application period for undergraduate or graduate engineering students.

Winners of the scholarship receive $2,000 per year and up to $8,000 over four consecutive years.

The scholarship is open to students with permanent residency in Montgomery or Prince George’s County enrolled in a full-time college or university engineering program. The application deadline is Monday, April 17, 2023.

WSSC Water says that two $2,000 scholarships — one for each county — may be awarded. Recipients are eligible for additional $2,000 awards for up to four consecutive years, including post-graduate studies in engineering.

“Our goal with the scholarship is to spark the interest of future engineers to pursue jobs in the water sector and, specifically, to join WSSC Water,” said WSSC Water Commission Chair Fausto Bayonet. “As Maryland’s largest water utility, and one of the largest in the nation, we offer exciting and engaging career opportunities for mission-driven people.”

Graduating high school seniors accepted into a collegiate engineering program are also eligible to apply.

This year, applicants can choose one of three topics to write a 500- to 1,000-word essay:

1. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers more than $50 billion through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve our nation’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure – the single largest investment in water the federal government has ever made. If you were WSSC Water and applied for this funding, what types of projects would you spend it on and why?
2. If you were General Manager/Chief Executive Officer for WSSC Water, how would you ensure racial equity and social justice were part of project selection for infrastructure projects?
3. The water sector continues to face increasing pressures to fix aging infrastructure without increasing customer costs. Innovation and technology play a vital role in helping utilities meet these goals. What technological advances or innovative solutions would you adopt at WSSC Water to address the challenge of aging infrastructure without breaking the bank?

In addition to the essay, applicants must include an introductory video and proof of residency in WSSC Water’s service district. Complete details and application requirements are available at wsscwater.com/scholarship.