WEST NYACK- Veolia and the New York Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) have awarded nine New York high school students with $3,000 scholarships.
These scholarships are designed to assist eligible high school seniors who are pursuing degrees in water industry-related fields, including natural resource management, environmental sciences, biology, chemistry and engineering. Scholarship recipients were recognized at an awards banquet Thursday, June 1, 2023, at The Thayer Hotel in West Point.
“As the water industry grows more and more complex, so does the need for enthusiastic, intelligent and highly motivated young people who have the educational background to lead the industry forward,” said Chris Graziano, vice president and general manager of Veolia operations in New York and chairperson of NAWC’s New York chapter. “These scholarships help talented students obtain higher education that strengthens the future of the country’s water industry.”
These are the scholarship winners:
- Lynna Baah – Nanuet High School, pursuing a degree in biotechnology at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Kevin Cahill – North Rockland High School, pursuing a degree in engineering mathematics at the University of Delaware
- Jenina Dinh – North Rockland High School, pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at Binghamton University
- Jillian Fullick – North Rockland High School, pursuing a degree in chemical engineering at the University of Georgia
- Darrin Greaves II – New Rochelle High School, pursuing a degree in biological sciences/marine biology at the University of Southern California
- Benjamin Heilbronn – Clarkstown South High School, pursuing a degree in computer sciences, energy and environment at Harvard University
- James O’Flynn – Tappan Zee High School, pursuing a degree in chemical engineering at the University of Buffalo
- Jenna Reiss – Clarkstown South High School, pursuing a degree in environmental engineering at Cornell University.
- Jack Rollison – Owego Free Academy, pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at Clarkson University
A five-person panel of judges reviewed scholarship applications from students across the state. The judges were Jeff Gillies, Town of Clarkstown’s Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator; Molly Borst, Pfizer’s Senior Manager for Site Affairs and External Engagement; Ivan Rudolph-Shabinsky, Dominican University New York’s Director of Business Administration; Ann Barry, a member of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland’s board of directors; and Neil Winter, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.’s Director of Regional Community Affairs.
The NAWC is a professional organization representing private water service companies throughout the United States. Through its scholarship program, the organization encourages young people to pursue careers in fields related to the water industry.
