Ontario Municipal Water Association announces recipients of the 2009 OMWA Student Bursaries

Feb 24th, 2009 8:55 AM

Media Release OMWA announces recipients of the 2009 OMWA Student Bursaries BELLEVILLE, February 24, 2009 - The Ontario Municipal Water Association (OMWA) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2009 OMWA Student Bursaries. A grant of five hundred dollars each has been awarded to Ontario college students Juliana Plukasz, Tanner Misch, and Tracey Giesen. “Each year, the OMWA bursary program encourages young people to pursue a career in supplying safe drinking water to Ontarians”, said Nick Benkovich, president of OMWA and director of Water/Wastewater for the City of Greater Sudbury, “It’s encouraging to see a high level of interest in the drinking water operator profession in our youth.”. Juliana Plukasz, of Huntsville is a student in the Earth Resources Technician program at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Peterborough. In her award application, Juliana explained her interest in safe drinking water, “From heavy metals like lead and mercury, to E.Coli, the concern for safe drinking water is great. We now realize almost anything can cause arm to our water systems if we are not delicate about its use.” Tanner Misch, of Dobbinton is a student in the Environmental Technician program also at Sir Sandford Fleming College. In his bursary application, Tanner showed an appreciation and understanding of the demands of a water operator, “A water operator’s job is very tough, demanding, and potentially very stressful. A water operator is a person who each day goes to work for your safety, so the next time you get yourself a glass of water, think of all the effort and time that goes into it.” Tracey Giesen of Englehart, Ontario, is in the Environmental Technician-Water, Wastewater and Waste Resources program at the Northern College of Applied Arts and Science in Timmins. In applying for the award, Tracey described her interest in the new municipal Drinking Water Quality Management Standard, “The use of a quality management system greatly enhances the confidence that water being provided to the public is safe, much greater than is provided by monitoring compliance with standards alone.” This is the second year of the OMWA Student Bursary Program. Successful candidates are selected on a geographic basis, in North Eastern, North Western, South-Western and Eastern Ontario. Eligible students include Ontario residents who are enrolled in an Ontario Community College program that could lead to a career in the water supply sector. Bursary applicants are evaluated based on their academic record, their community and voluntary activities, and their own interest and enthusiasm. For more information about OMWA’s Bursary Program please visit the OMWA website at www.omwa.org or contact: Doug Parker, Executive Director, OMWA at 613-966-1100. OMWA is based in Belleville, Ontario.