The WEF InFLOW (Introducing Future Leaders to Opportunities in Water) program aims to enhance diversity and inclusion in the water workforce.
This scholarship opportunity engages participants in WEF programs and events to:
WEF InFLOW consists of two tracks:
The program kicked off at WEFTEC 2018, and provided travel assistance, hotel accommodations, registration, and additional networking opportunities to 16 students from Howard University (Washington, D.C.), Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, Alabama), and University of South Florida (Tampa, Florida).
At WEFTEC 2019, InFLOW expanded to the current 2 tracks and included 40+ scholars from across the nation, including GreenCorp Chicago (Chicago, Illinois), Howard University (Washington, D.C), University of Alaska-Ancourage (Anchorage, Alaska), University of Hawaii-Manoa (Honolulu, Hawaii), University of South Florida (Tampa, Florida), Florida International University (Miami, Florida), and Florida A&M (Tallahassee, Florida).
2020 brought about the first fully virtual InFLOW program with 5 weeks of content for the scholars participating in both tracks. There were 24 STEMpath scholars representing Howard University (Washington, D.C.), University of Hawaii-Manoa (Honolulu, Hawaii), University of California-Irvne (Irvine, CA), San Diego State University (San Diego, California), Rutgers University (New Brunswick, New Jersey), and University of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC).
At WEFTEC 2022, there will be 26 STEMpath scholars participating in this year's program, representing 13 universities across 10 U.S. states. In the past, STEMpath scholars have represented a variety of different racial/ethnic groups and many have been first-generation college students in their families. They have ranged from first-year college students to doctoral candidates in a variety of majors. The schools participating in the STEMpath program are Arizona State University (Tempe, Arizona), Benedict College (Columbia, SC), California State University–Pomona (Pomona, CA), Florida International University (Miami, Florida), Howard University (Washington, DC), Loyola University (Chicago, Illinois), Manhattan College (Bronx, NY), Rutgers University (New Brunswick, New Jersey), San Diego State University (San Diego, CA), University of Nebraska–Lincoln(Lincoln, NE), University of South Alabama (Mobile, Alabama), University of South Florida (Tampa, FL), and University of the District of Columbia (Washington, DC). For the CareerTech track in 2022, 15 scholars will participate. Louisiana Green Corps selected these scholars to attend WEFTEC 2022. Louisiana Green Corps works to provide green job skills training and service-learning opportunities to 16- to 24-year-old youth and young adults living in the Greater New Orleans Area.
Past Participating Schools & Organizations
For more information about WEF InFLOW, download our brochure or email inflow@wef.org.
InFLOW Brochure STEMPath CareerTech
The STEMpath Track includes scholars from universities and colleges who are currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in a STEM field. Through WEF InFLOW, these students are first introduced to the water sector at WEFTEC, where they participate in activities with other students and young professionals, as well as specially curated events to help scholars build their network within the water community. After WEFTEC, the scholars will be invited to additional opportunities within WEF including internships, scholarships, and involvement with other WEF Student & Young Professional programming.
Who is Involved?
WEF works with universities and colleges throughout the United States to obtain student scholars. Program participants include students ranging from sophomore year to Ph.D. candidates, with different STEM concentrations and a varying range of knowledge about the water industry.
The WEF InFLOW STEMpath Program solicits schools/universities to apply to be part of this unique experience. If accepted, university scholars will participate in a dual virtual program and attend WEFTEC. The program will also include pre-WEFTEC programming to include more of an introduction to the water sector and additional opportunities for scholars to network and even find mentors within our young professional and water community.
After WEFTEC, the scholars will be invited to additional opportunities within WEF including internships, scholarships, and involvement with other WEF Student & Young Professional programming.
The program ensures that there will be no expenses incurred by the scholars, with expenses including airfare, hotel, registration, and meals covered by WEF.
University Responsibilities
By participating in the WEF InFLOW STEMpath program, universities agree to:
Student Responsibilities
Accepted universities will recommend students who qualify under the below criteria and responsibilities to partake in the InFLOW STEMpath Program:
STEMPath Applications – Closed for 2023
At this time, we do NOT accept individual applications from students. Applications will be reviewed based on university faculty answers to the following questions:
For more information about the STEMpath Program
Questions? Contact Inflow@wef.org.
The CareerTech path focuses on the local WEFTEC host communities (Chicago and New Orleans) to introduce opportunity youth to the wide array of career opportunities in water.
While attending WEFTEC, scholars are guided through the water resource recovery process via facility tours, meetings with exhibitors and local utilities, a behind-the-scenes tour of Operations Challenge, participation in the WEF Community Service Project, as well as networking with peers and industry leaders. Following WEFTEC, scholars become members of WEF and their local water quality association, where they are given ongoing opportunities for networking and education.
Who Is Involved?WEF partners with The Corps Network chapters to recruit individuals for the CareerTech program. The Corps Network are locally-based organizations that transform young people through career development, conservation, and civic engagement. Through this involvement with The Corps Network, scholars are ideal candidates for water sector careers.
At WEFTEC 2022, there were 26 STEMpath scholars participating in this year's program, representing 13 universities across 10 U.S. states. In the past, STEMpath scholars have represented a variety of different racial/ethnic groups and many have been first-generation college students in their families. They have ranged from college first-year students to doctoral candidates in a variety of majors. The schools participating in the STEMpath program were Arizona State University (Tempe, Ariz.), Benedict College (Columbia, S.C.), California State University–Pomona (California), Florida International University (Miami, Fla.), Howard University (Washington), Loyola University (Chicago), Manhattan College (Bronx, N.Y.), Rutgers University (New Brunswick, N.J.), San Diego State University (California), University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of South Alabama (Mobile, Ala.), University of South Florida (Tampa, Fla.), and the University of the District of Columbia (Washington).
For the CareerTech track in 2023, 15 scholars participated. Louisiana Green Corps selected these scholars to attend WEFTEC 2022. Louisiana Green Corps works to provide green job skills training and service-learning opportunities to 16- to 24-year-old youth and young adults living in the Greater New Orleans Area.
WEF is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, an inclusion to create an organization that acknowledges and celebrates our unique differences among our members, partners, staff, and more.
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