Teams From The University Of Minnesota – Twin Cities And Southern Methodist University Win The 2016 WEF Student Design Competition

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) proudly announces students from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and Southern Methodist University as winners of the 2016 Student Design Competition. The 15th annual competition took place last month as part of WEFTEC 2016, WEF's 89th annual technical exhibition and conference.

The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities team’s project, “A New Tool for the Retrieval of Harmful Algae Concentrations using Multi-Satellite Observations,” won in the environmental design category and Southern Methodist University’s team project, "City of Fort Worth Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility Primary Treatment Upgrades,” won in the wastewater design category. This was the first win for the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (Central States Water Environment Association) and the third win for Southern Methodist University (Water Environment Association of Texas).

As a program of WEF’s Students & Young Professionals Committee, the competition promotes real world design experience for students interested in pursuing an education and/or career in water/wastewater engineering and sciences. It tasks individuals or teams of students within a WEF student chapter to prepare a design to help solve a local water quality issue. Teams evaluate alternatives, perform calculations, and recommend the most practical solution based on experience, economics, and feasibility.

Members of the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities included Maria Garcia-Serrana, Zeinab Takbiri, Abby Tomasek, Anne Wilkinson, and their faculty adviser, Michele Guala. Members of the Southern Methodist University team included Elizabeth Boddicker, Katie Stowers, Rachel Turner, their faculty adviser, Dr. Patricia Taylor, and team sponsor Julie Ellis. Both teams received certificates and their respective member associations received a $2,500 award.

Click here (http://www.wef.org/PublicInformation/page.aspx?id=136) to learn more about the WEF Student Design Competition.

About WEF
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 33,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. Since 1928, WEF and its members have protected public health and the environment. As a global water sector leader, our mission is to connect water professionals; enrich the expertise of water professionals; increase the awareness of the impact and value of water and provide a platform for water sector innovation. For more information, visit www.wef.org.