In-person competition returned this June at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) in Golden, CO and members of the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association (RMWEA) jumped in quickly to help.

From the current WEF president, Jamie Eichenberger (who just happens to be a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines) to many RMWEA volunteers, including several young professionals and current students, the RMWEA volunteers helped coordinate the planning for the 3-day event, greeted students as they arrived in Denver, served as coaches for the students while on campus, and provided tours of the Campus Laboratories and the City of Golden’s drinking water facility.

As a 40-year veteran of the water/environment industry and a WEF Life Member, I was happy to help. It’s great to see high school students who are deeply committed to helping meet the challenges faced in today’s global water environment. I had the opportunity to help with the competition in 2004 which was held in Denver, and it is very rewarding to see students 18 years later who continue to improve our knowledge and expand our understanding of the global water system.  I am sure some of these students will be supporters of WEF as they move forward in their professional lives. I was happy to help and would gladly do it again. RMWEA strongly supports the SJWP and looks forward to future opportunities to participate in the U.S. competition of this prestigious international event.  

If you would like to volunteer for future events, please contact Brad Lovett on WEF staff at blovett@wef.org.  

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) was founded in 1997 by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) to complement the Stockholm Water Prize.