The goal of Water Palooza is to engage elementary school students in hands-on and demonstrative activities that promote the value of water and encourage students to become stewards of their own water environment.

The Water Palooza subcommittee has created an online educational video/content repository for educational leadership, teachers in school and online, and parents who have suddenly become full-time educators to access during the fall/winter of the 2020 school season. Take a look here!

Learn more about Water Palooza

The WEF Student Design Competition promotes real-world design experience for students interested in pursuing education and careers in water and wastewater engineering and science. WEF hosts two different competitions at WEFTEC: the Wastewater Design and Environmental Design. 

The competition tasks students to prepare and present a design that helps solve a water quality issue. Teams evaluate alternative ideas, perform calculations, and recommend solutions in the form of an engineering report and presentation.

Learn more about the WEF Student Design Competition

The WEF Young Professionals Midyear Springboard Program was developed to further increase opportunities for Student and Young Professional members to become involved in WEF, with particular emphasis on integration of Young Professionals into the WEF technical committees. At the Midyear Meeting, YPs will have the opportunity to join committee working sessions, develop and review programs, and help develop programming for WEFTEC.

Learn More

The Emerging Young Professionals Leadership Workshop (EYPL) traditionally held the day before the YP Summit, attracts young professionals in an engaging, relevant industry topic, with a focus on non-traditional topics that promote professional development. 

This year's EYPL will be in-person! Click below to learn more!

Join the EYPL!

The WEF Students and Young Professionals Committee is proud to announce the launch of a WEF Mentorship Program. The purpose of this pilot program is to provide rising WEF members with an avenue to connect with leaders outside of their own organization to discuss growth in both career and personal development. 

Get Involved!

The WEF/AWWA YP Summit is a joint leadership conference held in conjunction with the WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference. Young Professionals in the water and wastewater industry from across North America and Canada attend this annual event. YP Summit is the place to explore your role in the water and wastewater industry and discuss how to best serve your organization and community.

Learn more about the YP Summit

Welcome to the new home of YP Connections!

The mission of YP Connections is to connect Students and Young Professionals through sharing information and experiences related to involvement in WEF and Member Associations, professional development and leadership opportunities.

See What the YP's are Up To!

WEF’s Student Chapters promote student interest in the water and wastewater industry, and provide an avenue for the for the exchange of information and ideas between students and members.

Explore Student chapter resources Or start your own chapter

WEF Canham Graduate Studies Scholarship

This scholarship provides $25,000 for a post-baccalaureate student in the water environment field. The scholarship is for education related expenses such as room and board, tuition and books.

application requirements

Outstanding Young Water Environment Professional Award

This award is presented to a young professional for significant contributions to the Water Environment Federation and to the wastewater collection and treatment industry.

Learn more

US National Stockholm Junior Water Prize

This award is presented to a high school level water-related research project at the US National Competition. The winner recieves a $10,000 prize and an all-expenses paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden to represent the US at the International Competition, held during World Water Week.

Apply today