2025 WEF Award Winners
WEF is honored to annually recognize and congratulate those who make an immense impact on the world of water in many ways.
Through the WEF Awards Program, you will find below the vast and varied list of Awards and recipients we are pleased to present.
WEF FellowS Published Papers Education Awards Individual Service and Contribution Awards Operation Design and Excellence Awards Organization and Association Recognition Awards
On Monday, September 29th at 5pm (CT), click here to watch the 2025 WEF Awards & Presidential Celebration Ceremony livestream at WEFTEC!
2025 WEF Fellows
Created to celebrate outstanding contributions to the global water sector by long-time Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Virginia) members, the WEF Fellows Recognition Program recognizes the professional achievement, stature, and contributions of WEF members to the preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. These professionals have made a lasting difference for public health and the environment.
James R. Barsanti
New England Water Environment Association
Katherine Y. Bell, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE
Clean Water Professionals of Kentucky & Tennessee
Todd Boling
Nebraska Water Environment Association
Patrick J. Bradley
Virginia Water Environment Association
Jay M. Brady, P.E.
Central States WEA (IL, MN, WI), Illinois Water Environment Associaton, Iowa Water Environment Association
Shellie Chard
Oklahoma Water Environment Association
B. Scott Cummings, P.E.
Alabama's Water Environment Association
Thomas M. Galeziewski, P.E.
AZ Water Association
Dr. Graham Juby, P.E.
California Environment Association of Texas
Daniel J. Murray, Jr., P.E., BCEE
Ohio Water Environment Association
Richard Russell Roll, P.E., DEE
New York Water Environment Association
Diego Rosso
California Water Environment Association
Jeff Sober, P.E., BCEE
Water Environment Association of Texas
Louis Storino, P.E., BCEE
Central States Water Environment Association, Illinois Water Environment Association
Robert A. Villée
New Jersey Water Environment Association
Published Papers
WEF published research awards recognize exciting advancements in water knowledge and practice.
Eddy Wastewater Principles & Processes Medal
"Comparing methanol and glycerol as carbon sources for mainstream partial denitrification / anammox in an IFAS process”, Ms. Megan Bachmann, Charles B. Bott, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, Dr. Kartik Chandran, Dr. Haydee De Clippeleir, Dr. Stephanie Klaus, Halil Kurt, Michael Parsons, Daniel M. Stockard, and George F. Wells, WER, Vol. 96, Issue 4 (April 2024)
Megan Bachmann
Charles B. Bott, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE
Dr. Kartik Chandran
Dr. Haydee De Clippeleir
Dr. Stephanie Klaus
Halil Kurt
Michael Parsons
Daniel Stockard
George Wells
Gascoigne Wastewater Treatment Plant Operational Improvement Medal
“Taming the Aeration Beast”, William Fang, Patrick Wittbold, and Dr. Joseph Gitau Gikonyo, WE&T, Pg. 42 (October 2024)
William Fang
Joseph G. Gikonyo
Patrick Wittbold
McKee Groundwater Protection, Restoration, or Sustainable Use Award
“Fluoride geochemistry in groundwater at regulated industrial sites”, Andrew P G Fowler, Nigel Goulding, Shanna Law, WER, Vol. 96, Issue 8 (August 2024)
Andrew Fowler
Nigel Goulding
Shanna Law
Rudolfs Industrial Waste Management Medal
“Spent Media Management Options for Industrial PFAS Treatment Applications”, David Garb, Alison Ling, Andy McCabe, Margaret Thompson, David Trueba, and Sudhakar Viswanathan, Access Water Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, WEFTEC Conference Paper, (October 2024)
David Garb
Alison Ling
Andy McCabe
Margaret Thompson
David Trueba
Sudhakar Viswanathan
Fair Distinguished Engineering Educator Medal
James R. Mihelcic
Florida Water Environment Association
Student Chapter of the Year Award
Canham Graduate Studies Scholarship
Kenneth Mensah
University of Maine
Public Communication & Outreach Program Award (Individual Category)
Gabriel Evans
Public Communication & Outreach Program Award (Other Category)
Stafford County Utilities Department
"Captain Clog Superhero" Educational Program
Public Communication & Outreach Program Award (Other Category)
Water Environment Association of Texas - North Texas Section
"Membranes and Mudbugs Event" Program
Media & Public Education Medal
Patti Wetli
Operator Scholarship
Rosa Arminda Ayala
WEA of Ontario
Operator Scholarship
Kiel Canterbury
Rocky Mountain WEA
Operator Scholarship
Matteo Dykstra
Pennsylvania WEA
Operator Scholarship
Kenny Deivis Garcia Rondon
Operator Scholarship
Aaron Walter Gee
Operator Scholarship
Tracy Gerhardt
Pacific Northweast CWA
Operator Scholarship
Matthew Gregory
Operator Scholarship
Mandi Hebert
Florida WEA, Hawaii WEA, Puerto Rico W&EA, WEA of South Carolina
Operator Scholarship
MD Al Sadikul Islam
Chesapeake WEA
Operator Scholarship
Bradley Johnson
WEA of Utah
Operator Scholarship
Kelly Kurtz
California WEA
Operator Scholarship
Kaiden Loverin
British Columbia W & WA
Operator Scholarship
Kimberly Marquez
New Jersey WEA
Operator Scholarship
Dale Miller
Pennsylvania WEA
Operator Scholarship
Hailey Power
Operator Scholarship
Giovanni Rivera
Pacific Northweast CWA, Puerto Rico W&EA
Operator Scholarship
Joseph Rodriguez
New York WEA
Operator Scholarship
Kenneth Ryder, P.Eng, M.Eng
WEA of Ontario
Operator Scholarship
Thomas Scott
AZ Water
Operator Scholarship
Tara Simmon
New York WEA
Operator Scholarship
Chris Tatum
WEA of Ontario
Operator Scholarship
Dustin Watkins
NEWEA
Operator Scholarship
Johnathon Whetton
New England Water Environment Association
Public Officials Award
Kimberly Du Buclet
Illinois State Representative
Public Officials Award
Public Officials Award
K. Joseph Shekarchi
Speaker, Rhode Island State House of Representatives
Camp Applied Research Award
Pusker Regmi, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE
Virginia WEA
Best WEFTEC Program Abstract Award
Laurel Schaich, P.E.
“Fort Wayne’s Journey Towards Resilience and Clean Energy - Implementation of a Microgrid Program and RNG Injection”
Best WEFTEC Program Abstract Award
Zach Schortgen, P.E.
“Fort Wayne’s Journey Towards Resilience and Clean Energy - Implementation of a Microgrid Program and RNG Injection”
Emerson Distinguished Service Medal
Bruce Rittmann
AZ Water
Emerson Distinguished Service Medal
Diego Rosso
California WEA
MARC (Manufacturers and Representative Community) Individual Distinguished Service Award
Bill Peretti
Rocky Mountain WEA (CO, NM, WY)
Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional Award
Natalie Cook
Central States WEA (IL, MN, WI)
Water For People Robert W. Hite Distinguished Leadership Award
Stephanie Doblosky
Water For People Robert W. Hite Distinguished Leadership Award
Dr. Jamal Y. Shamas, P.E.
WEA of Texas
Water Heroes Award
City of Asheville Water Resources Department
Water Heroes Award
City of Mulvane Water Department
Water Heroes Award
County of Maui Lahaina Wastewater Operations Team
Water Heroes Award
Henrico Water – Department of Public Utilities
Water Heroes Award
Veolia North America – Smithfield, Rhode Island
Water Heroes Award
Veolia North America – Spencer, Iowa
Ralph Fuhrman Medal
Jui-Hun Chang
Ralph Fuhrman Medal
Chih-Ming Kao
Ralph Fuhrman Medal
Dr. Sheu Yih-Terng
Rao U. Surampalli
Dr. Rao Y. Surampalli
Ralph Fuhrman Medal
Dr. Tian C. Zhang
WEF Mentorship Award
Karla G. Camou Guerra
AZ Water
Collection Systems Award
Paul Costa
Chesapeake WEA (DE, DC, MD) / Water Environment Association of Texas
Water Quality Improvement Award
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality -
Miller Creek Public Restroom Project
WEF Safety Award
South Platte Renew, (SPR) Safe Program
Innovative Technology Award
quagga, Inc., HALT Steed Series PFAS Destruction Unit
Innovative Technology Award
Moleaer, Nanoshield
Innovative Technology Award
Revive Environmental Technology, LLC, PFAS Annihilator - Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO)
WEF Project Excellence Award
District Green Stormwater Infrastructure at Highland Bridge Project, (Saint Paul, MN)
Honorees: District Green Stormwater Infrastructure at Highland Bridge, City of Saint Paul Public Works Department, Capitol Region Watershed District, Barr Engineering, Ryan Companies
WEF Project Excellence Award
West Point Power Quality Improvements (Seattle, WA)
Honorees: West Point Treatment Plant, Brown and Caldwell, Corrosion Probe, Inc., Environmental Science Associates (ESA), Expert Power Solutions Inc., Fire & Risk Alliance, LLC., Hoffman Construction Company, Jacobs Engineering, Kennedy/Jenks (King County), Mott Macdonald, LLC., Wagner Architects, Clarity Engineering LLC., Elcon Associates, Inc., Rushing (now IMEG), True North Land Surveying Inc.
WEF Project Excellence Award
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Southeast Treatment Plant Headworks Project (San Francisco, CA)
Honorees: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Southeast Treatment Plant, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Carollo Engineers, Inc., Sundt-Walsh JV, Lucas Lowney (The Walsh Group)
