2008 Groundwater Scholarship Program


For over ten years, The Barton Springs/ Edwards Aquifer Conservation District has held an annual groundwater essay contest for Austin-area high school students. Winners of the contest each receive $1,500 scholarship to the institution of his/her choice. The District is pleased to announce it has extended this program to include four scholarships to the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center’s Aquatic Science Adventure Camp at Texas State University in San Marcos.

Groundwater Essay Contest –
Scholarship for Junior or Senior High School Students
The District is now soliciting applications and essays for its 2008 Groundwater Essay Contest. One essay will be selected as winning entry by an independent evaluation panel, and the author will receive a $1,500 scholarship to the college, community college, or training institution of his/her choice.

Essays must generally discuss groundwater issues, which may include but are not limited to non-point source pollution and pollution prevention, water conservation, or hydrogeology. While essays must focus on groundwater issues, applicants do not have to be planning a career path in a water-related field.

Applicants must be high school juniors or seniors currently enrolled in one of the seven school districts overlapping District boundaries (Austin, Eanes, Dripping Springs, Hays Consolidated, Del Valle, Bastrop, and Lockhart), or an accredited private school located within the boundaries of those school districts. Those individuals who have acquired a GED within the last six months are also eligible. In addition, essay contest winners must plan to use the scholarship money for the 2008-2009 school year; funds will be provided directly to the selected institution.

For contest rules and application, click here.
To read the 2007 winning essays, click here


Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center's Aquatic Science Adventure Camp: Scholarships for Ages 9 to 15
The District is now soliciting applications and essays for its 2008 Camp Scholarship program. This year's program will provide:
  • Two $495 scholarships to the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center's Week-Long Aquatic Science Adventure Camp (Note: Parent will be responsible for providing the other $100 of the camp fee, which will be the deposit needed to hold the child’s spot.)
  • Two $120 scholarships to the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center's 2-Day Aquatic Science Adventure Camp (Note: All $120 will be paid for by BSEACD.)
Camp scholarship contest is open to children ages 9 through 15 who reside in one of the seven school districts overlapping the District’s boundaries. Interested students must submit an application and a 1-page essay/artwork entitled "Why I want to attend the Aquatic Science Adventure Camp!" Scholarship winners will be chosen in a random drawing; only completed applications with essays will be eligible.

Deadline for submissions: Friday, April 4, 2008.
To download the rules and application , click here.

The District would like to thank our permittee, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, for donating their Conservation Credits this year to the scholarship fund. Their donation will provide 2 scholarships to the 2-Day Aquatic Science Adventure Camp.

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