How to Apply for the Scholarship

2024 Scholarship Program

The application deadline for this year is March 31, 2024.

Get your Scholarship Application Package Today!

We'll be accepting packages from February 1st, 2024 through March 31st, 2024.

The Alabama Rural Water Association offers educational scholarships annually to deserving individuals through the John A. Garrett Scholarship Fund. Six scholarships are offered to individuals who meet the criteria described.

Two recipients will be selected from each of three regions North, Central and South, as shown on the Alabama Map in the amount of $750 per recipient.

We ask that you provide each of your employees who may be interested or have children who are interested a copy of this package. Where more than one child in a family or more than one employee in a utility is interested, each is eligible to apply. The application must be completed in its entirety and the utility must be a current member of the Alabama Rural Water Association.

To insure continued growth in the number of certified water and wastewater operators in the State of Alabama, three of the six scholarships will be offered to individuals striving to enhance their professionalism by attending Alabama Water or Wastewater Operator Certification Courses for Grades I-IV certification examination preparation. This is offered to expand the educational opportunities of those individuals interested in water and wastewater industry careers. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity.

Please note the application package must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2024. Any package received with a later postmark will not be considered.

If you have any questions, please call the ARWA office at (334) 396-5511.

Process

The application (and all attachments thereto) must be signed, completed and all requirements of the package must be completed and submitted to the Alabama Rural Water Association Scholarship Fund 2576 Bell Road, Montgomery, AL 36117. If an applicant fails to complete the entire application or fails to submit all of the items in the format requested by the deadline date, the application will not be considered for any purpose or under any circumstance with respect to the scholarships of the Program.

Please note that for student applications, both the student applying for the scholarship and the parent/guardian of the student must sign the application and, if either of such signatures is not on the application, the application will be considered incomplete, and not considered in the application process. For adults applying, only the signature of the employee is required.

The application with all required submissions must be postmarked no later than the specified due date. Any package received with a later postmark will not be considered.

The John A. Garrett Scholarship Program does not, and will not discriminate, on the basis of race, color, sex, religion or national origin or on any other basis in either the application process or in the consideration and granting of the scholarships provided. The regions established by the ARWA are based upon a balanced number of counties in which its utility members who created the program are located. As a result, the scholarship for which you are applying is based upon the Northern, Central, and Southern regions of the State. A map showing the regions established is attached to this application package and available here.

By submitting the application package and submissions relating to the application, the applicant and his or her parent/guardian signing the application are certifying that the information submitted is true and correct and the applicant and his or her parent/guardian are agreeing to the scholarship conditions set forth below.

Scholarship Conditions

The terms and conditions, on which the scholarships are to be made for this scholarship year, are as follows:

1. Three scholarships shall be transmitted to the accredited school selected by the scholarship recipient. For three regions representing North, Central, and South Alabama there will be one scholarship awarded per region in the amount of $750 each.
2. Three scholarships shall be awarded to individuals qualified and selected to attend State of Alabama Water/Wastewater Operator Certification School of the ARWA for Grades I - IV. For three regions representing North, Central and South Alabama there will be one scholarship awarded per region for cost of tuition, manuals and examination fees not to exceed $750 each.
3. The scholarship shall be granted to:
   • High School Graduates of employees with at least two years of employment with an ARWA member water or wastewater utility. Undergraduate students are also eligible.
   • Employees with at least two years of employment with an ARWA member water or wastewater utility.
   • Children (high school graduates) of ARWA Board Members or Staff
   • ARWA Staff
   • ARWA Board of Directors
4. The three higher education scholarships shall be announced and awarded prior to May 31st of each year, but are contingent and subject to the scholarship recipient graduating from high school and passing any required graduation exam. Undergraduate applicants must be enrolled as a full time student and in good standing, meeting necessary institution GPA.
5. Three ARWA Operator Certification Course scholarships will be awarded to qualifying individuals prior to May 31st of each year, but are contingent and subject to the scholarship recipient meeting the employment requirements with an ARWA Member utility. Individuals must register to attend the ARWA Operator Certification Course for the Grade level choice of I – IV and attend 75% of the instructional classes for tuition to be paid. If the student fails to attend class or participate less than 75% for any reason other than documented medical reason, the scholarship will be withdrawn and returned to the ARWA John A. Garrett Scholarship Fund.
6. The scholarship shall not be renewable and, to the extent of the amount awarded, will be only for the one-year term.
7. The scholarship will be paid by the Scholarship Fund directly to the educational institution and to ARWA Operator Certification Program for credit to the students account at the institution with notification of receipt to be received from the educational institution.
8. In order for the scholarship fund to be received for the benefit of the scholarship recipient, the student must enroll for a minimum of 12 semester hours at the institution selected, which full-time status must be certified by the institution or register for full time Certification Course participation through the ARWA. Failure to qualify for the minimum hours will result in a rescission of the scholarship with the funds being returned from the institution to the ARWA John A. Garrett Scholarship Fund. There are no exceptions to this rule, and except as determined by the Scholarship Board on a nondiscriminatory basis, there will be no deferral of enrollment.
9. Eligible applicant scholarships will not be awarded solely based upon need, nor will need be a predominate basis upon which any determination is made. Leadership ability will also be a determining factor.