ACWA Scholarship

Each year through the ACWA Scholarship Program, ACWA awards two $3,500 scholarships to qualified undergraduate students.

Apply for this Scholarship

Please review the ACWA Scholarship Guidelines thoroughly before completing the scholarship application. Applicants who do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements will not be considered. The 2025-’26 cycle is now open and applications must be submitted by March 1, 2025. To apply, please create an account using the button below and answer and submit the general information to proceed to the specific scholarship essay questions and applications.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

  • Applicants must be a California resident at the time of application.
  • Applicants must be attending an accredited, University of California or California State University at the start of the academic year covered by the scholarship.
  • Applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate degree in a water resources-related field related to engineering, agricultural and/or urban water supply, environmental studies, or public administration at the start of the academic year covered by the scholarship.
  • Applicants must be at least a junior at the time of the academic year covered by the scholarship.
  • Applicants must commit to full-time enrollment (12 semester units or 16 quarter units) for the entire academic year covered by the scholarship.
  • Applicants must submit at least two current letters of recommendation (but no more than three), with at least one of the letters originating from a college professor or employer on business letterhead; all letters of recommendation must include contact information for the letter writer.
  • Applicants must submit official transcripts for each college they have attended; acceptable formats include photocopied or scanned official transcripts, or unofficial transcripts issued by the school; however, printed class schedules will not be accepted.
  • Applicants must submit an essay responding to specific prompt (no more than 1,000 words).

Selection Criteria

Scholarship recipients will be selected based on:

  • Scholastic achievement;
  • Demonstrated motivation to the vocation of water resources-related management;
  • The quality of the student’s essay; and
  • Commitment to full-time enrollment for the entire academic year.

Purpose and Disbursement

Scholarship funds are not disbursed to the student directly. Funds are disbursed to the appropriate Financial Aid Office in a lump sum of $3,500 and must be applied to the student’s account for tuition and fees. Scholarship funds should not be transferred directly to the student or be used for any other purpose.

If a scholarship recipient fails to meet the terms of this scholarship in any way, the award may be rescinded.

Past Recipients

  • Brayden Smith, San Jose State University (2024)
  • Joseph Silvi, UC Berkeley (2023)
  • Abdel Rahman Zaro, UC (2022)
  • Eric Rodriguez, CSU Fresno (2022)
  • Sean Low, CSU Long Beach (2021)
  • Sasha Vanley, UC Berkeley (2021)
  • Marcus Sanchez, CSU Long Beach (2020)
  • William Welch, UCLA (2020)
  • Nicholas Caton, UCLA (2019)
  • Fernanda Rocha, UC Irvine (2019)
  • Ashley Green, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2018)
  • Benjamin Clemons, UC Berkeley (2018)
  • Brian Clark, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2017)
  • Dylan Goodwin, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2017)
  • Holli Tripp, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2015)
  • Gregory Borba, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2015)
  • Martha Moak, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2014)
  • Sierra Minchaca, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2014)
  • Emily Kislik, UC Berkeley (2013)
  • Hilary Olsen, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2013)
  • Kerilyn Ambrosini, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2012)
  • Rebecca Peters, UC Berkeley (2012)