Applications are being accepted for the George E. Condra Scholarship.
Condra served as director of the Conservation and Survey Division at the University of Nebraska from 1921 to 1954. He sought to better serve the water well industry and the people of the state by promoting professionalism in well drilling. With the help of several interested drillers, he organized an association for their profession: the Nebraska Well Drillers Association.
In 1970, the NWDA established the scholarship to honor Condra.
"The objective of the scholarship is to provide some assistance for students to be prepared in water resources, hydrogeology and programs that would serve the industry," said Lee Orton, NWDA executive director. "We are very hopeful that people will apply. We like to provide assistance so that people will consider staying in Nebraska and being a part of the groundwater industry."
CSD director and Nebraska state geologist Matt Joeckel said that Condra was the original "mover and shaker" in the understanding of groundwater in Nebraska.
"It is fitting that the Nebraska Well Drillers have established a scholarship in his name, in effect providing a direct connection through the decades to a dynamic and singular personality, and simultaneously promoting groundwater education among Nebraska's fine young people," Joeckel said. "We all look forward to seeing a good group of applicants this year."
The scholarship is worth $1,000 and given annually to one or two qualified undergraduate students in the University of Nebraska system. Recipients must have sophomore standing or above with at least a 3.0 GPA, and be enrolled full-time in any program leading to a career in the water well industry or in geology, hydrology or hydrogeology.
Applications are available online at http://go.unl.edu/758 and are due by Nov. 15. The scholarship will be awarded at the annual NWDA convention in mid-February in Lincoln.
— Mekita Rivas, Natural Resources
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/iuke