This scholarship is awarded to a graduate level student studying in a field closely related to the goals of CASFM. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program in Colorado and registered to take at least 3 credit-hours of coursework per semester. Eligible programs of study include, but are not limited to, hydrology, hydraulics, watershed management, floodplain management, stormwater management, stormwater quality, emergency response, meteorology and climatology.

CASFM has $4,000 available for the 2023–24 academic year. Finished application packages must be received by October 29, 2023.

Ben Urbonas Scholarship Application

The purpose of this scholarship is to promote interest in the CASFM organization and its goals among students and the engineering community. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program closely related to CASFM’s goals at a college or university in Colorado and be registered to take at least 3 credit hours of coursework per semester. Eligible programs of study include, but are not limited to: hydrology, hydraulics, watershed management, floodplain management, stormwater management, stormwater quality, emergency response, meteorology, and climatology. The scholarship recipient will also have the option to make a brief presentation on their research project at the 2024 CASFM Conference held September 30–October 3 in Beaver Creek. Registration and three nights’ lodging at the conference are included if the recipient commits to make a presentation by the registration deadline (typically in August).

Selection Process: Three applicants will be shortlisted based on this application and a short essay (up to 500 words; attach to application) describing their personal and career goals and how they relate to the goals of CASFM. Preference will be given to local applicants. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by November 13, 2023. A panel will hold a short (approximately 20 minute) interview with short-listed applicants in mid-November. The successful candidate will be notified by December 1, 2023. Funds will be disbursed by check directly to the student. Previous recipients of the scholarship are not eligible.

Recipients

The 2022-2023 CASFM Ben Urbonas Scholarship recipient is Elisabeth Miller. Elisabeth is pursuing her PhD in the Engineering and Applied Sciences program specializing in Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering at the University of Colorado – Denver. Through her PhD research on the modernization of the Rational Method and work with the Colorado Water Quality Control Division she aims to help develop standards and guidance to support engineers in urban stormwater design. It is her hope to continue this work so communities not only here in Colorado, but around the globe can have access to beautiful green and blue spaces, as well as be protected from flood and storm damage.

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