Nicole L. Smith has been awarded the $1,000 George E. Condra Memorial Scholarship for 2015.
Nicole is a Sophomore majoring in Geology and Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Hydrology. Her interest in water conservation started at a young age, "It started with a presentation about how to conserve water in one's own home." Nicole said. A trip to her local library was where she first discovered information on the Ogallala Aquifer. Nicole knew at that time she wanted to be a geologist and work to protect and conserve our most valuable resource - water.
The George E. Condra Memorial Scholarship is in memory of Dr. George E. Condra, director of the Conservation and Survey Division (CSD) of the University of Nebraska from 1921 to 1954. Dr. Condra sought to better serve the water well industry and the people of the state by promoting professionalism in well drilling. With the help of a number of interested drillers, he organized a professional association for their profession, the Nebraska Well Drillers Association (NWDA).
To honor Condra, in 1970, the well drillers worked with the University of Nebraska Foundation to set up the annual scholarship. The scholarship is worth $1,000 and is given annually to one or two qualified undergraduate students in the University of Nebraska system who has sophomore standing or above with at least a 3.0 GPA; and is enrolled full-time in any program leading to a career in the water well industry or in geology, hydrology or hydrogeology.
For scholarship applications, contact Jacki Loomis at (402) 472-7550, jloomis3@unl.edu. Applications are due each year by November 15th, and the scholarship is awarded at the annual convention of the Nebraska Well Drillers Association in Kearney in mid-February.
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/bc7w