WRD Retirees Scholarship for Hydrologic Technicians

Hydrologic Technicians enjoy a well-deserved reputation of delivering high-quality data products that meet local, state, and National needs. Praise for these employees comes from groups both internal and external to the USGS. These folks are often referred to as the "backbone" of the water program. To honor these fine folks, WRD Retirees created a scholarship program for Hydrologic Technicians. WRD Retirees presented a proposal in the May 2006 Newsletter to establish an annual $1500 Scholarship for Hydrologic Technicians. The membership of WRD Retirees showed overwhelming support for the Hydrologic Technician Scholarship with 96% of the voting members in favor. Beginning with the scholarships awarded in 2009, WRD Retirees decided to award two scholarships annually. One for $1,500 and a second one for $1,000.


Several institutions currently offer university level training specific for Hydrologic Technicians: GateWay Community College in Phoenix, AZ; Vermilion Community College in Ely, MN; Spokane Community College, in Spokane, WA and Western Dakota Technical Institute in Rapid City, SD are schools that USGS has experience with. They each offer a two-year program that leads to an Associate Degree as a Hydrologic Technician.

Selection Process:

WRD Retirees appointed the Immediate Past President, Jim Blakey, and Vice-President, Bill Emmett, to establish a procedure to identify and select candidates. With assistance from Jim Kircher, Director, Colorado Water Science Center, and Deborah M. Lowe, Central Region Human Resources Officer, they developed a plan that works well. Students from all schools offering a 2-year program leading to an Associate Degree as a Hydrologic Technician are eligible. Each eligible student is asked to answer:

• What College are you currently attending?
• What are your career goals?
• Why do you want to work for the USGS?
• Where are you willing to accept USGS employment?
• What has been your best experience during your internship with the USGS?

A group of WRD Retirees, several hydrologists and hydrologic technicians, meets to evaluate the applicants. The answers to the above questions, their academic performance and the evaluation of their USGS supervisors are considered.

Winners:

2009: Lisa Ashmore, a student at GeteWay Community College in Phoenix, AZ was awarded a scholarship for $1,500. Lisa was a summer intern in the Montana Water Science Center. An official presentation was made in the Montana office in August 2009.

2009: LaShawn Nohrenberg who attends Vermillion Community College in Ely, MN was awarded a scholarship for $1,000. LaShawn was a summer intern in the Nebraska Water Science Center. An official presentation was made in the Nebraska WRD office in August 2009

2008: Claire Bunch, a student at GateWay Community College, Phoenix, was the 2008 winner. She was selected by a committee of WRD Retirees. Claire was also a summer intern in the Sacramento office of WRD. A check and award certificate have were presented to Claire in September 2008.

2007: Gretchen C. Anderson of Vermilion Community College is the 2007 scholarship winner. She is currently serving as a Student Trainee in the Tulsa, Oklahoma office. An official presentation ceremony was held at the Tulsa WRD office in August 2007.

2006: Jacob B. Dayley of GateWay Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, was the 2006 scholarship winner. Jacob had a 2006 summer internship with the California Water Science Center. He has graduated and accepted a position of Hydrologic Technician in the Carnelian Bay, California office of WRD.

www.wrdretirees.org contact: wrdretirees@usgs.gov