2012 Scholarship Essay Contest Topic
"What role can the plumbing industry play in protecting our water for future generations?"
Following up on the resounding success of last year’s competition, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), a worldwide organization of dedicated professionals striving to make our planet a safer and healthier place in which to live, will again sponsor an essay competition awarding scholarships to five young people affiliated with IAPMO and many of its industry partners.
Participants in this years contest will submit essays expressing their thoughts on “What role can the plumbing industry play in protecting our water for future generations?” As IAPMO’s Uniform Plumbing Code® serves as the basis of codes that protect one half of the world’s population through safe installation and governance of plumbing systems around the globe, the topic chosen by the IAPMO Board of Directors succinctly reflects IAPMO’s 85-year-old mission.
IAPMO’s chapters are strong and growing, its members are the leaders in industry and the government, and the association recently had a huge influx of student/apprentice members. But there are troubling signs on the horizon; chapters are getting collectively older. While there are new inspectors, contractors and engineers joining the ranks, the vast majority of members who came out of the baby boom are now reaching retirement age.
It is with these thoughts in mind that the IAPMO Board of Directors has chosen to establish an Scholarship based on an Essay Competition to attract young people to IAPMO and reinforce the importance of plumbing and mechanical systems in our collective battle for sustainability.
The competition is open to members — and their children — of IAPMO, PHCC, MCAA, the UA, ASPE and ASSE who are currently enrolled in a high school, community college, trade school, four-year accredited college or university, or working in an apprentice program.
Submitted essays must be completely original and a minimum of 1,000 words. The essay entry deadline is June 1, 2012, via e-mail, fax or mail to IAPMO World Headquarters. The winning essay will be announced next September at the 2012 IAPMO Education and Business Conference in Hollywood, Florida. The essay awarded first prize will be published in the award-winning Official magazine and on the IAPMO Website and its author will receive $500 and a one-year paid membership to IAPMO. Second and third place winners will receive $250 and $100, respectively, and also be published in Official and on the IAPMO Website.
Individuals who meet the qualifications to submit an essay to the competition should include your name, your school’s name and yours or your parent’s professional affiliation with one of the qualifying trade associations or union locals. All essays should be sent to Ms. Gabriella Davis at IAPMO by e-mail at gaby.davis@iapmo.org; by fax at (909) 472-4222; or by standard mail to her attention at IAPMO, 4755 E. Philadelphia St., Ontario, CA 91761.
Winners of the 2010 scholarship essay contest
"Why Should Access to Safe, Clean Drinking Water Be A Basic Human Right?"
The top scholarship of $500 was awarded at this year's annual business and educational conference to Olivia Szabo. The second place scholarship of $250 was awarded to Jeff Keysar and the third place awards of $100 were awarded to Summer Higdon, Sarah Smedley and Nate Thorson.
The essays will be published in the award-winning OFFICIAL Magazine and on the IAPMO Website in the next few months.
All of the winners also recieved a one-year membership to IAPMO.