Georgia Association of Water Professionals Scholarships

The Georgia Association of Water Professionals maintains three separate scholarship funds and awards eight scholarships each year. Each of these funds is intended to assist deserving students in their further training and education after high school. The Scholarship Committee of GAWP administers the scholarship program.

The application period opens on December 1 each year and submissions must be received by February 28. Applications are evaluated based upon criteria approved by the GAWP Board of Directors. The criteria include membership in GAWP (except for the H2Opportunity Undergraduate and Philip R. Karr Scholarships), scholastic record, extracurricular activities, and, in the case of the H2Opportunity Undergraduate and Philip R. Karr Scholarships, a brief essay.

GAWP Undergraduate Scholarship

GAWP’s Undergraduate Scholarship is awarded in the amount of $2,000 per year, and is renewable for up to three years, contingent upon the student meeting established renewal criteria. The applicant or applicant's parent must be a member of GAWP.

Requirements for eligibility for this scholarship are as follows:

• Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian shall hold an active, individual membership in GAWP.
• Applicant shall be a graduate of an accredited high school, or demonstrate that graduation will occur before August 1 of the initial award year.
• Scholarship funds shall be used to assist in the cost of a full-time undergraduate education or training program in a recognized university, community college, junior college, technical training school, etc. There is no restriction with regard to the course of study that must be followed by the applicant.
• Selection criteria shall be based on applicants’ college credentials (e.g. Grade Point Average).

GAWP Frontline undergraduate scholarship

Created for the frontline workers in our industry and their children, this scholarship assists in the cost of a full-time undergraduate education or training program and is awarded for studies leading to a career in the water profession.

In 2005, GAWP created the Frontline Undergraduate Scholarship for the frontline workers in our industry and their children. Frontline workers include non-management positions such as operators, superintendents, laboratory technicians, customer service specialists, CAD operators, etc., but would exclude management positions such as engineers, division managers, department managers, utility directors, and corporate officers. These job titles are listed as examples of non-management and management positions. It is possible that some small utility personnel may have one of these “management” job titles yet not be in a management position, as such those employees and their children would be eligible for this scholarship.

Eligibility for the Frontline Undergraduate Scholarship is at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee. (Applicants for this scholarship are also eligible to apply for GAWP’s Undergraduate Scholarship if they or their parent/guardians are individual members of GAWP.)

This scholarship is renewable for up to three years, contingent upon the student meeting established renewal criteria. One Frontline Undergraduate Scholarship is awarded annually, and the annual award amount is $2,000. This scholarship is renewable for up to three years, contingent upon the student meeting established renewal criteria.

Requirements for eligibility for the Frontline Undergraduate Scholarship are as follows:

• Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian shall be an employee of a GAWP Utility or Corporate Member, or applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian shall hold an active, individual membership in GAWP.
• Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian shall be in a non-management, non-engineering position. Applicant shall provide a short description of this position.
• Applicant is encouraged to submit a recommendation from a representative of the Utility or Corporate Member stating why this employee or this employee’s son or daughter should be considered for this scholarship.
• Applicant shall be a graduate of an accredited high school, or demonstrate that graduation will occur before August 1 of the initial award year.
• Scholarship funds shall be used to assist in the cost of a full-time undergraduate education or training program in a recognized university, community college, junior college, technical training school, etc. There is no restriction with regard to the course of study that must be followed by the applicant.

Gawp Graduate Scholarship

This scholarship, for graduate students only, is a $2,000 award and is non-renewable, but recipients may compete for the scholarship in subsequent years. The applicant or applicant's parent must be a member of GAWP.

In 2003, GAWP established a Graduate Scholarship for graduate students only. This scholarship is a $2,000 award and is non-renewable, but recipients may compete for the scholarship in subsequent years. 

Requirements for eligibility are as follows:

• Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian shall hold an active, individual membership in GAWP.
• Applicant shall be a graduate of an accredited college or university, or demonstrate that graduation will occur before August 1 of the initial award year.
• Scholarship funds shall be used to assist in the cost of a full-time education in a recognized college or university graduate program. There is no restriction with regard to the course of study that must be followed by the applicant.
• Selection criteria shall be based on applicants’ college credentials (e.g. Grade Point Average).

Gawp H2opportunity Scholarship

The H2Opportunity Scholarship is for undergraduate students who enter a field of study leading to a career in the water profession. This scholarship is a $2,000 award and is non-renewable, but recipients may compete for the scholarship in subsequent years.

In 2008, GAWP established the H2Opportunity Scholarship for undergraduate students who enter a field of study leading to a career in the water profession. This scholarship is a $2,000 award and is non-renewable, but recipients may compete for the scholarship in subsequent years. The recipient will be expected to participate in at least one GAWP-sponsored event.  

Requirements for eligibility for this scholarship are as follows:

• There is no membership requirement for this scholarship. For applicants not attending a four-year program, SAT/ACT scores are not required.
• Applicant shall be a graduate of an accredited high school, or demonstrate that graduation will occur before August 1 of the initial award year.
• Work experience or an internship in a water-related field is recommended, but not required.
• Applicant shall be a resident of Georgia, or entering or attending a college, university or training school located in Georgia.
• Scholarship funds shall be used to assist in the cost of a full-time undergraduate education or training program in a recognized university, community college, junior college, technical training school, etc. This scholarship is to be awarded for studies leading to a career in the water profession.
• A short essay (not to exceed 1,500 words) is required. The essay is to cover the applicant’s interest in, and intended course of studies leading to, a career in the water profession, including technical trades.

William J. Greene Jr. Scholarship

Established by GAWP in 1995 in honor of Mr. Greene upon his election to the American Water Works Association’s Water Industry Hall of Fame, the annual award amount for this scholarship is $2,000 and it is renewable for up to three years, contingent upon the student meeting established renewal criteria.

This scholarship was established by GAWP in 1995 in honor of Mr. Greene upon his election to the American Water Works Association’s Water Industry Hall of Fame. In 1997, GAWP awarded the first William J. Greene Scholarship.

The annual award amount for this scholarship is $2,000 and it is renewable for up to three years, contingent upon the student meeting established renewal criteria. 

Requirements for eligibility for this scholarship are as follows:

Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian shall hold an active, individual membership in GAWP.

Applicant shall be a graduate of an accredited high school, or demonstrate that graduation will occur before August 1 of the initial award year.

Scholarship funds shall be used to assist a student attending the Georgia Institute of Technology as a full-time student. There is no restriction with regard to the course of study that must be followed by the applicant.

The Greene Frontline Scholarship

One Greene Frontline Scholarship, which was established in memory of Mr. & Mrs. William J. Greene, is awarded annually for undergraduate studies and is renewable for up to three years, contingent upon the student meeting established renewal criteria. The annual award amount is $2,000.

• One Greene Frontline Scholarship is awarded annually for undergraduate studies and is renewable for up to three years, contingent upon the student meeting established renewal criteria. The annual award amount is $2,000.

Requirements for eligibility are as follows:

• Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian shall be an employee of a GAWP Utility or Corporate Member, or applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian shall hold an active, individual membership in GAWP.
• Applicant or applicant’s parent/guardian shall be in a non-management, non-engineering position. Applicant shall provide a short description of this position.
• Applicant is encouraged to submit a recommendation from a representative of the Utility or Corporate Member stating why this employee or this employee’s son or daughter should be considered for this scholarship.
• Applicant shall be a graduate of an accredited high school, or demonstrate that graduation will occur before August 1 of the initial award year.
• Scholarship funds shall be used to assist in the cost of a full-time undergraduate education or training program in a recognized university, community college, junior college, technical training school, etc. There is no restriction with regard to the course of study that must be followed by the applicant.

Philip R. Karr, III scholarship

The Philip R. Karr, III Scholarship was established in 1996 by friends of Dr. Karr, in recognition of his dynamic leadership and contributions to improved management and operation of public water systems and treatment facilities. This scholarship is a $2,000 award and is renewable for one year, contingent upon the student meeting established renewal criteria.

The Philip R. Karr, III Scholarship was established in 1996 by friends of Dr. Karr, in recognition of his dynamic leadership and contributions to improved management and operation of public water systems and treatment facilities. In 1997, GAWP awarded the first Philip R. Karr, III Scholarship.

This scholarship is a $2,000 award and is renewable for one year, contingent upon the student meeting established renewal criteria. 

Requirements for eligibility for this scholarship are as follows:

• Individual membership in GAWP is not a requirement for eligibility for this scholarship.
• Applicant shall be a resident of Georgia, or entering or attending a college or university graduate school located in Georgia.
• Applicant shall be a graduate of an accredited college or university, or demonstrate that graduation will occur before August 1 of the initial award year.
• Scholarship funds shall be used to assist in the cost of a full-time education in a recognized college or university graduate program. This scholarship is to be awarded for studies centered on environmental engineering, water resources, water quality, or related fields.
• A short essay (not to exceed 1,500 words) is required.  The essay is to cover the applicant’s professional goals in environmental engineering, water resources, or related fields, and the applicant’s intended use for the scholarship.
• Selection criteria shall be based on applicants’ college credentials (e.g. Grade Point Average).
• Applicants may be interviewed by the GAWP Scholarship Committee.

Skilled Trades Scholarship

The Skilled Trades Scholarship was established in 2025 for students pursuing a career in skilled trades who will be attending a vocational, technical, or trade education program. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support to the next generation entering these high-demand skilled trade professions. The annual award amount is $2,000 and is renewable for one year.

In 2025, GAWP established the Skilled Trades Scholarship for students pursuing a career in skilled trades who will be attending a vocational, technical, or trade education program. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support to the next generation entering these high-demand skilled trade professions. The annual award amount would be $ 2,000 and is renewable for one year.

Eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Applicant shall be a resident of Georgia.
• Applicant or applicant’s parent/ guardian shall hold an active, individual membership in GAWP.  
• Applicant must have a GED, high school diploma, or demonstrate that they will graduate before August 1 of the initial award year.
• Scholarship funds shall be used to assist in the cost of vocational tech studies or training program.  
• Scholarship is open to any trade-based field of study; however, additional consideration will be given to applicants who are pursuing a water-related field of study.  

Additional selection consideration will include:

• Community or school volunteer involvement and participation in extra-curricular activities.
• Work experience or internships in the applicant’s chosen field of study.
• Letter(s) of recommendation from teacher, employers, or mentors.
• A short personal statement (100- 150 words) explaining why the applicant is pursuing their chosen field of study.
• SAT/ ACT scores not required or considered in selection.
• GPA scores not considered in selection.