The Sonny Roden Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually by Virginia Water Environment Association (VWEA) to students enrolled at Virginia universities in an environmental engineering or physical science graduate program. The scholarship honors L.H. (Sonny) Roden, Jr., a dedicated servant of VWEA (formerly the Virginia Water Pollution Control Association). Mr. Roden was Chief of the Division of Wastewater Treatment for the Department of Public Utilities in the City of Richmond and served VWEA as Secretary-Treasurer for over a decade. He represented VWEA on the Certification Board for Virginia Water and Wastewater Works Operators. Mr. Roden left a legacy of service to the organization that is still felt today, and it is VWEA’s hope that his example will continue to inspire future leaders in our industry.
The objectives of this scholarship are to support our local universities and to promote student participation in VWEA. The award shall be $3,000 to the winner. Criteria for the scholarship shall be as follows: Students must be enrolled in a graduate program at a Virginia university, full- or part-time, attending in the spring and fall semesters. Their undergraduate program must be relevant to the water industry, and students must have a minimum 3.25 GPA or higher.