Bette Boatmun Emerging Leader Award
In memory of Bette Boatmun, who served California’s water industry for more than forty years, the ACWA Foundation is creating the Bette Boatmun Emerging Leader annual award to recognize mid-level managers who aspire to advance an inclusive and equitable water industry that reflects the powerful diversity and opportunity of California. The award provides a monetary prize for the recipient to attend an approved leadership development program of their choosing.
“Bette was more than a mentor,” said ACWA Past President Pam Tobin. “She was a guiding light, a nurturing teacher, and a compassionate confidant. Early in my political grooming stages, Bette spoke passionately about the need to form the ACWA Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit aimed at addressing the workforce voids in our industry as the silver tsunami loomed on the horizon. She was instrumental in helping me, along with many others, to manifest the vision of the ACWA Foundation.”
Bette had an extraordinary gift: She saw potential in people where they themselves often saw only limitations. With her gentle encouragement, she empowered countless individuals – especially women and underrepresented groups – to step into their power, embrace their strengths, and chase their dreams. She fostered a community where ideas thrived, where every voice mattered, and where everyone felt empowered to contribute. Bette believed that by nurturing the talents of others, we could create a legacy of leadership that would transform not only the water industry, but the very fabric of our society.
A champion for social equity, Bette was a fierce advocate for equal pay and diversity in the workplace, while also promoting access to clean and affordable water for all. Bette’s leadership paved the way for future generations in the water industry and set a high bar for what it means to serve your community.
Nomination forms will be available at the ACWA Spring Conference.
Successful candidates would meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Have at least eight (8) years of experience in the water industry, in public, private, or non-profit settings
- Hold a mid-level management position within their organization, characterized by managing teams, offices, and/or departments
- Has a history of helping others enter or grow their careers in the water industry
- Advances a culture of equity and inclusion in their organization and/or the water industry as a whole
- Have a passion for advancing the water industry, as demonstrated through active engagement in key policy issues, initiatives, organizations, or projects that benefit California’s communities
- Demonstrate emerging leadership skills and a desire to advance them
- Reside in California
ACWA Foundation Awards $50,000
in Next Generation Scholarships
The ACWA Foundation launched its scholarship program in fall 2023 by awarding $50,000 to eight juniors attending various colleges in the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems.
The scholarship program was created to invest in future water leaders and cultivate a bright future for students who are dedicated to working in this industry. Students were selected based on financial need, academic excellence, career goals, interest in the water community and whose situation best advances the ACWA Foundation Mission.
Congratulations to the following students who received $10,000 scholarships:
- Luis Huerta, a junior at Cal Poly Humboldt, who volunteered in restoration efforts and community gardens while growing up on the polluted coast of Tijuana. He is currently President of the American Water Resources Association Cal Poly Humboldt Chapter.
- Zahra Beatty James, a junior at CSU Sonoma, who is a single mom pursuing a degree in geology. A first-generation college student, she wants to “break the cycle of limited opportunities that many in her community face.”
- Ireland McCall, a junior at CSU Fresno, who interned six months with an irrigation company, learning about sustainable groundwater management, groundwater sustainability agencies, and how to better operate irrigation districts.
- Marlenne Ortega, a junior at CSU Monterey Bay, who has volunteered at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Orange County, the Habitat Stewardship Project and at various outreach events where she translates educational materials into Spanish
Congratulations to the following students who received $2,500 scholarships:
- Arelly Ibarra, at CSU San Marcos
- Simon Maranguis, at San Jose State
- Nicole Nielsen, at UC Irvine
- Finn Schmelzer, at Sacramento State
Please check back for information regarding 2024 scholarships.