PWGC is investing in the next generation through our 2026 Environmental Engineering Scholarship Program, which awarded three Long Island High School Seniors scholarships. With more than $2,000 of scholarship funding, PWGC celebrated Elizabeth Estrada, Jaclyn Ziccardi, and Hannah Jaccard with a luncheon on July 22nd. Elizabeth, Jaclyn, and Hannah were selected from a large pool of applicants who submitted essays on one of the following topics:
- Long Island relies heavily on its sole-source aquifer for drinking water — what are the greatest threats to it and what steps should be taken to protect it?
- New York State has committed to ambitious climate targets under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Do you think the state is on track, and what barriers stand in the way of meeting those goals?
- Describe a specific environmental problem in your own neighborhood or community. What caused it, who is responsible for addressing it, and what would you do differently if you had the authority to act?
“Each year, I’m impressed by the quality, creativity, and thoughtfulness demonstrated in the essays we receive not only from our scholarship winners, but also from every student who takes the time to submit an application. The caliber of this year’s submissions made selecting the winners especially challenging, and we are proud to recognize the hard work and dedication of all the students who participated. I wish each of them the very best in their future endeavors, and I hope we welcome many of them back as interns in the years ahead,” said PWGC President and CEO, Paul K. Boyce, PE, PG.
PWGC has been rewarding excellence through the Environmental Engineering Scholarship for nearly 35 years. Since then, it has awarded nearly $40,000 to students with an interest in pursuing engineering and environmental science as a career.
All the awardees will pursue higher education opportunities this fall. Elizabeth will attend the Stanford University studying Mechanical Engineering, Jaclyn will attend SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry studying Forest Resources Management, and Hannah will attend Buffalo State University studying Earth Science (Biology). We wish them the best as they advance in their educational journey and cannot wait to hear of their successes and achievements.
PWGC also provides an internship program every summer. The internship program allows students to incorporate their knowledge from the classroom into the real world. The hands-on experience is valuable to each student as they work towards their engineering and environmental degrees. “Investing in the next generation of professionals is one of the most important things we can do, and we are proud to play a role in helping these talented students take the next step toward their futures,” explained Paul.
PWGC believes that investing in the next generation is one of the most meaningful contributions a firm can make to its community. Through the scholarship program and summer internship opportunities, PWGC remains dedicated to helping students turn academic passion into professional purpose. We look forward to watching these scholars grow and hope to welcome them back as the environmental leaders of tomorrow.
Sign up for our newsletter