WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Brown and Caldwell (BC) today proudly announces a collective $33,000 in scholarships has been awarded to seven exceptional science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students. Each year, BC recognizes promising full-time students pursuing careers in the environmental engineering industry to advance our commitment to building a more diverse industry. This year marks the first time a new scholarship has been created and awarded in a decade—the Tribal Nations STEM scholarship for qualified U.S. Native American students. These scholarships provide access and opportunity to the environmental and engineering industry to individuals who represent the firm’s values of technical and academic excellence, environmental stewardship, and supporting diversity in the industry. Join us in congratulating this year’s scholarship recipients.

BC’s new Tribal Nations STEM scholarship is for enrolled members of federally or state-recognized Tribes studying engineering or environmental sciences. The first honoree is Bailey Nez, a Diné woman from Tocito, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. She will be a third year undergrad pursuing an earth sciences degree on the pre-law track at Dartmouth College. After graduation, Bailey plans to pursue a career in environmental law with a focus on environmental justice and environmental protection and restoration for Indigenous communities and marginalized areas.

The Women in Leadership Scholarship supports students interested in pursuing a career in the environmental profession. This year’s honoree is Maren Feltmen, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biological engineering with a minor in Water Resources at Montana State University. Maren works in a campus treatment wetland research lab and is a member of Engineers Without Borders. After graduation, she intends to pursue a career in the water industry and earn her professional engineering license.

The LGBTQIA+ Scholarship honors students who identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and are interested in pursuing a career in the environmental industry. This year’s recipient, Nolan Kraemer, is a is a senior civil engineering student at the University of Florida. Upon graduation, he plans to work in the water resources field and obtain his professional engineering license in Water Resources.

BC continues to honor the legacy of a 50+ year environmental pioneer by offering the Dr. W. Wesley Eckenfelder, Jr. Scholarship to students pursuing education and a career within the environmental industry. This year’s recipient is Maiya Holton, pursuing her bachelors in civil engineering focusing on water resources and sustainability at California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo. After graduating, she plans to join the water resource industry, attaining her professional engineering license, and working to develop sustainable water management and environmental designs.

To encourage and support students who are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, BC provides an annual Navajo Nation Scholarship with recipients eligible to receive up to $4,000 over the course of four years as well as a laptop the first year. This year’s honoree is Gehrend Yazzie, a member of the Bitter Water Clan majoring in electrical engineering at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and after graduation plans to help her community integrate renewable energy sources into aspects of daily life.

Through its Minority Scholarship Program, BC provides time and monetary commitment to invest in scholarships, internships, and mentoring for full-time minority college students at the junior, senior, or graduate level majoring in environmental engineering or one of the environmental sciences. This year’s recipient is Maya Suzuki, a second-year doctorate candidate pursuing environmental engineering at Arizona State University. She is working on a project supporting the Good Samaritan abandoned mine remediation bill to incentivize cleanup of abandoned U.S. mines. Maya is interested in working to commercialize cost-effective water treatment technologies for removing and recovering metals after completing her doctorate.

In partnership with AWWA and in recognition of BC co-founder Dave Caldwell’s contribution to engineering and technology in the drinking water field, the annual AWWA Dave Caldwell Scholarship awards $5,000 to a female and/or minority graduate student with demonstrated leadership ability in drinking water applied research and consulting. This year’s scholarship honors Faezeh Pazoki, a doctorate candidate at McGill University. Faezeh’s research focuses on innovative methods to address PFAS, including the UV-top method and iron-containing clay materials for in-situ PFAS degradation. The scholarship was presented during the AWWA ACE Conference in Anaheim, California on June 11, 2024.

Scholarship recipients are selected by a committee of BC professionals on the basis of their academic accomplishments. Scholarships are open to full-time college students enrolled in their junior or senior years or graduate programs.

Applications open in February of each year and close in March. For more information and details on eligibility, visit: https://brownandcaldwell.com/careers/scholarships/.