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AWRA FLORIDA

William V. Storch Student Award

AWRA Florida offers William V. Storch Student Awards in the amount of $1,500 to undergraduate and graduate Florida college or university students. The selection criteria for an undergraduate student is based on academic performance including the cumulative grade point average, relevance of the student’s curriculum to water resources and leadership in extracurricular activities related to water resources. The criteria for a graduate student is based on academic and/or research performance. The measures of academic performance are identical to those described for the undergraduate criteria with the addition of the quality of the student’s research and its relevance to water resources. Applicants should prepare a title page and two-page summary of their academic interests and achievements, extracurricular interests and career goals as they relate to the above selection criteria. The application must also include a letter of reference, preferably from a professor or advisor, a transcript of all college courses and the applicant’s full name, permanent mailing address, email address, and phone number. Applications must be received by Friday, April 12, 2024.

2024 Application forms for undergraduate and graduate applicants are now available.

2023 William V. Storch Graduate Student Awards

Sanneri Santiago Borres – University of Florida

2nd year PhD Student in Environmental Engineering Sciences studying the distribution and transport pathways of emerging pollutants like PFAS in FL coastal ecosystems after extreme weather events. She experienced 2 Cat 5 hurricanes firsthand in Puerto Rico – Irma & Maria.



 




Javid Ali – University of Central Florida

PhD Student in Water Resources Engineering studying extreme weather events in Florida, their drivers, and the impacts on both communities and the environment. The goal is to help understand the underlying mechanisms that drive vulnerability of communities and ecosystems.









2023 William V. Storch Undergraduate Student Awards

Sydney Cloutier – University of Miami

Sydney Cloutier is an undergraduate senior at the University of Miami, double majoring in Marine Science and Geological Sciences with a minor in Geospatial Technology.  She is heavily interested in marine geosciences and marine resources.  She is currently working on a senior thesis with Dr. Amanda Ohlert on marine fish in the global carbon cycle.  She will obtain her scientific diving certification this semester in hopes of conducting underwater research in the future.  In her free time, Sydney is involved in numerous on-campus organizations.  She is a member of SCUBA Club and Rho Rho Rho Marine Science Honor Society, as well as the Student Government Academic Liaison and a Peer Counselor for the Rosenstiel School for Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Sciences.  Her hobbies include snorkeling, traveling, and flying.  




Malena Gonzalez Fernandez University of Florida

Malena González Fernández is a Junior studying Environmental Engineering at the University of Florida. At her university, Malena participates in undergraduate research at Dr. Deliz’s PFAS Fate and Transport Lab, where she is currently helping to establish a baseline of PFAS concentrations across Brevard County for future studies. Malena also serves as the UF Society of Hispanic Professional Engineer’s Vice President of External Affairs, planning various community and K-12 STEM outreach events alongside her team. This summer, Malena interned at Hazen as a technician, where she had the opportunity to learn about consulting and wastewater treatment design.


Andrew Foley – University of Florida

Andrew is a recent graduate from the University of Florida who received his bachelor’s degree in marine sciences last semester. During his undergraduate career, Andrew spent extensive time volunteering at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve working alongside fisheries biologist Mr. Patrick O’Donnell. Through this work, he assisted on multiple long-term projects investigating an estuarine system with altered hydrology which is currently undergoing restoration. By comparing the effects of an estuary with altered hydrology to a natural system, this work aims to determine how species composition can differ due to degraded water quality. This project heightened Andrew’s interest in aquatic restoration and the preservation of water resources. Additionally, during his senior year, Andrew worked in the UF Fisheries Ecology Laboratory under Dr. Debra Murie, assisting on a project studying the reproductive potential of Gray Snapper in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Through both classwork and research experience, he defined his academic interests to be focused on how environmental changes in water quality impact fisheries and the broader ecosystem. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in global change ecology specifically focused on aquatic ecology and fisheries science. He then hopes to transition into policy-focused work with either NOAA or another national agency, specifically to bring attention to Florida’s aquatic environments as an advocate for one of the state’s most important natural resources.


Samantha is an honor student at Florida Gulf Coast University in her Senior year. She is seeking a degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Water Resource Science and Management. Currently she is the Vice President of the FGCU AWRA student chapter and head of their research committee. She is very active in her community, putting in over 200 hours of service learning during her time at FGCU. Two of her favorite organizations to volunteer with are The Calusa Water keepers and The Calusa Land Trust. These organizations continuously expand her knowledge in water quality and land management. 

Samantha Grisso – Florida Gulf Coast University

Samantha is an honor student at Florida Gulf Coast University in her Senior year. She is seeking a degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Water Resource Science and Management. Currently she is the Vice President of the FGCU AWRA student chapter and head of their research committee. She is very active in her community, putting in over 200 hours of service learning during her time at FGCU. Two of her favorite organizations to volunteer with are The Calusa Water keepers and The Calusa Land Trust. These organizations continuously expand her knowledge in water quality and land management. 




Past Recipients

2022

Osamah Tarabih – University of South Florida (Graduate)

Estenia  Ortiz - University of South Florida (Graduate)

Megan Kramer - University of South Florida (Graduate)

Alex Orfinger – Florida A&M University / University of Florida (Graduate)

Lillian Maxwell – University of Florida (Undergraduate)


2021
Farah Aryan - University of Florida (Undergraduate)
Jenna Brooks - University of South Florida (Undergraduate)
Madison Mullen - Florida Gulf Coast University (Undergraduate)
James Javaruski - Florida Gulf Coast University (Graduate)
Ahmed Nasr - University of Central Florida (Graduate)
Cierra Braga - Florida Institute of Technology (Graduate)
Daniel Schroeder - Florida Gulf Coast University (Graduate)

2020
Ashley Boggs - University of Central Florida (Undergraduate)
Robert L. Taylor - University of Florida (Undergraduate)
Jeremy Conrad - Florida Atlantic University (Graduate)
Florida Atlantic University (Graduate)
Kyle Rezek - University of Florida (Graduate)
Sharmin Siddiqui - University of Florida (Graduate)
Osama Tarabih - University of South Florida (Graduate)

2019
Kendall Karcher - University of Central Florida (Undergraduate)
Bertrand King - Florida Atlantic University (Undergraduate)
Austin Wise - Florida Gulf Coast University (Undergraduate)
Noha Abdel-Mottaleb - University of South Florida (Graduate)
Charlotte Haberstoh - University of South Florida (Graduate)
Marco Pazmiño-Hernandez - University of Florida (Graduate)
Amanda Tritinger - University of Florida (Graduate)

2018
Luke Westlake - Florida Gulf Coast University (Undergraduate)
Yiliannis Rodriguez - Florida Gulf Coast University (Undergraduate)
Kristin Briggs - Florida International University (Graduate)
Kevin Henson - University of Florida (Graduate)

2017
Quinn Zacharias - Florida State University (Undergraduate)
Samantha C. Dowdell - University of Miami (Graduate)

2016
Andres Sola - Florida International University
Amanda Chappel - University of South Florida - St. Petersburg

2015
Alexis Johnson - University of Florida
Ileana Daniela Corsi - Florida International University

2014
Alice Alonso - University of Florida
Jason Goodrich - Florida Gulf Coast University and Edison State College

2013
Natalie Nelson - University of Florida
Allison Lewis - University of Florida 

2012
Darina Palacio - University of Florida
Aneesh Goly - University of Florida

2011
Gonzalo Moretta - Hillsborough Community College
Yogesh Khare - University of Florida

2010
Daniel Morris - University of Florida
Lisa Seales - University of Florida
Scott Simpson - University of Florida

2009
Madison Dickmon - Edison State College
Miguel Morales - University of Florida

2008
Laura Wewerka
Steven L. Byars - University of North Florida

2007
Gordon Brown - University of Florida
Heather Byrne
Russell Ferlita
Marcus Griswold
Mikhal Mobert
April Moore

2006
Jehangin Badha
Beth Bevc
Stuart Norton

2005
Christopher Rawl
Kelly Gleaton
Michael Zelazo
Ondine Wells
Stuart Mueller
Lindsay Griffen

2004
Scott Knight
Lynn Saunders

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