The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), the charitable arm of The IAPMO Group, invites students and plumbing trades apprenticeship program participants to enter its 2020 Scholarship Essay Competition. The following is this year’s topic:

“With which like-minded organizations should IWSH partner and how would these specific partnerships advance and enhance the IWSH mission to deliver clean water and safe sanitation to those most in need?”

The 11th annual competition will award monetary scholarships to three students and/or trade apprentices with an interest in how the plumbing and mechanical industry can create and promote positive change both here and abroad.

“Though our world is expansive, these essays display over and over again how truly universal is the need for clean water and safe sanitation,” said IAPMO Vice President and Essay Committee Chairman David Gans. “When we think locally, in this regard we are indeed thinking globally as well. I look forward to reading this year’s entries.”

This topic chosen by the Sandra Imprescia Essay Scholarship Committee provides ample room for exploration and solution finding by competition participants. The competition is open to current high school seniors or anyone enrolled or accepted as a full-time (12 credit hours) student in an accredited technical school, community college, trade school, four-year accredited college or university, or an apprentice program.

Submitted essays must be the completely original work of the submitter, no fewer than 800 words and no more than 1,600 words. The essay entry deadline is April 30. IWSH’s board of trustees will select and announce the essay contest winners by Aug. 31. The author of the essay awarded first prize will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a one-year paid membership to IAPMO. The second-place winner will receive a $750 scholarship and the third-place winner will receive a $500 scholarship. All winning essays will be published in Official, IAPMO’s membership magazine, and on the IWSH website.

Individuals who meet the qualifications to submit an essay to the competition should include their name and their school’s or education/training organization’s name and other supporting information as noted at the IWSH website.

Essays must be submitted via email to essay@iwsh.org; via fax to 909-472-4241; or USPS to:

International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation
Attn: Leticia Gallegos, Essay Contest
4755 E. Philadelphia St., Ontario, CA 91761