Commissioners' Engineering Scholarship Program

WSSC Water offers annual scholarships to college students majoring in engineering fields that are vital to the work of WSSC Water.

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About the Scholarship

WSSC Water offers annual scholarships to college students majoring in engineering fields vital to its mission. Named in honor of former Commissioners Joyce Starks and Gene W. Counihan, the goal of the scholarship program is to provide financial assistance to students from WSSC Water’s service district in furtherance of their engineering studies and encourage applicants/winners to consider careers in the water and water resource recovery industry; preferably, at WSSC Water.

Two scholarships for $2,000 each may be awarded: one to a Prince George’s County resident and one to a Montgomery County resident. Winners are eligible for additional awards of $2,000 each year for up to four consecutive years as long as they meet residency and grade point average requirements. Winners also receive priority consideration for paid summer internship opportunities at WSSC Water.

The 2026 application period opens Sunday, February 15, 2026, and closes Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Eligibility

To qualify, students must:

Submit an application by Sunday, March 15, 2026
Provide proof of permanent residency in WSSC Water’s service district
Be enrolled* full-time in a degree program at an accredited college or university that leads to an engineering degree in one of the following areas:
- Civil engineering (i.e., environmental, sanitary, structural, geotechnical, water resources, fire protection, transportation, project management, construction management)
- Electrical engineering
- Material science and engineering
- Chemical engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Computer science/engineering

*High school seniors who have been accepted into such a program are eligible; proof of acceptance/enrollment must accompany application materials.

Application Process

Applicants must submit all of the following information for this scholarship:

Essay between 500 to 1,000 words
- Applicants can review the three 2026 essay topics in the next section.
Video introduction/infomercial
- Tell us who you are and why you’re the best candidate for the scholarship. Video should be no longer than five minutes.
Official transcript
- High school seniors must submit their official high school transcript along with proof of acceptance/enrollment into a qualifying engineering program.
Two reference letters
Proof of permanent residency in WSSC Water's service district
- Acceptable forms of documentation include:
  - Copy of driver’s license
  - Voter registration card
  - Other government-issued ID that confirms your permanent residency in either Prince George’s or Montgomery County, Maryland

2026 Essay Topics

Students are to pick one of the three following topics for a 500- to 1,000-word essay:

Water Affordability and Utility Costs
Water utilities must balance affordable rates with the need to maintain and upgrade aging infrastructure while remaining in regulatory compliance. Propose one or more engineering solutions that reduce costs, improve efficiency or increase system resilience while maintaining reliable service.
Artificial Intelligence and Smart Technologies in Water Utilities
Artificial intelligence and smart technologies can improve efficiency, reduce water loss and enhance customer service. They also raise questions about costs, data protection and responsible implementation. Describe how these tools could be applied in a water utility and discuss their benefits, challenges and cost considerations.
Preparing the Future Water Workforce
As the water workforce changes, utilities must develop engineers with new technical skills. Identify the key competencies future water engineers will need and discuss whether advanced, high-tech projects (e.g., energy-neutral treatment, resource recovery) can help attract top engineering talent to the water industry.

Submission Options

The 2026 submission deadline is Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Applicants can submit their information online via our Applicant Portal beginning Sunday, February 15, 2026.

Submit your application online

You may also submit your application package by U.S. Mail to:
Julianne Montes de Oca, Corporate Secretary
WSSC Water
14501 Sweitzer Lane
Laurel, MD 20707

Mailed applications must be postmarked by Sunday, March 15, 2026. For mailed applications, please submit the video on a flash drive.

Note: If you cannot upload your transcript or letters of recommendation, please have your school or recommender send the letters by mail to the Corporate Secretary at the previously listed address or by email to julianne.montesdeoca@wsscwater.com.