Scholarship Opportunities - Illinois Section American Water Works Association

Scholarship Opportunities

Celebrate Outstanding Students and Trainees!

On this page you'll find scholarships offered by the Section. Make sure to tell any students, operators-in-training, or current operators looking for more education about ISAWWA's scholarship opportunities!

Scholarship applications will open for 2026 in February. If you would like a reminder when the scholarship application is live, please contact Lindsay Selfridge, Engagement Specialist, lindsay@isawwa.org.

See below for our list of available scholarships.

General Information for Scholarship Awardees

The award recipients will be responsible for providing all payment information to ISAWWA and shall allow 45 - 60 days for disbursement of funds.
Scholarship recipients will receive free registration for ISAWWA's annual WATERCON Conference.
Immediate family members of ISAWWA staff are not eligible to receive scholarship funds.
Acceptance of scholarship constitutes permission to use recipient's name and school.
Please make sure to answer all of the questions on the application. Required questions are marked with an asterisk*.

Questions?

For questions and more information, contact Lindsay Selfridge, Engagement Specialist, through email or call 866-521-3596 ext.6.

Safe Water Scholarship  

Overview: 
The Outreach Committee seeks to support the future generation of total water workers by providing scholarships to students committed to a future in the water industry and who are currently enrolled in post-secondary education programs.

Eligibility/Guidelines
Must be enrolled in post-secondary education college or university, pursuing a Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral degree.
Must be enrolled in or considering a career in a water related field.
Must fill out application in full including the sections: Goals, Interest in Field, and Leadership. Include your most recent transcript and resume.
Preference given to those who are attending school in Illinois and/or plan to live and work in Illinois.

Scholarship Details:
Up to $1,000.00 is available. 
Distributed to educational institutions for the current academic year.
Application Deadline: June 30th
Notification by: August
Funds Distributed by: September 30th

Click here to apply for the Safe Water Scholarship!

AWWA Water Operator Continuing Education Fund

Overview: 
The Water Operator Continuing Education Fund supports non-traditional education programs, including trade schools, certification programs, and community college coursework for water operators. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Note: The Water Operator Continuing Education Fund does not fund scholarships for undergraduate, graduate, or PhD programs.

For questions about specific program eligibility, contact Margo Hatton, CFRE – Senior Manager Development and Donor Relations at mhatton@awwa.org.

Click here to apply for the Water Operator Continuing Education Fund through AWWA's website!

Illinois PUBLIC SERVICE INSTITUTE-IPSI SCHOLARSHIP

The Institute offers a 3-year leadership training program for public service employees.
Applicants must be Illinois Section AWWA members and may apply for a $500 scholarship towards tuition for each year, a total of $1500 for the three-year IPSI program.
For more information and to apply for the scholarship, click on the links below:

Spring IPSI Application

Fall IPSI Application