Meet the 2025 SESWA Student Conference Scholarship Winners!

(2025 Scholarship Winners - Left to Right: Oluwatunmise Akanmu, Haven Hardy, Katie Hitt, Mohammad Khalid, Ashmita Poudel, Iaya Kamber, Isabelle Zarsadias)

The Southeast Stormwater Association’s Student Conference Scholarship Program is designed to provide valuable educational and professional connections for college students as they explore the stormwater management profession. The conference scholarship program is focused on selecting college students with a desire to meet professionals throughout the Southeast and to learn about projects being conducted to address stormwater management and improve water quality in our environment. The 2025 Conference Scholarship included a travel stipend, hotel nights, and attendance at SESWA’s 20th Annual Regional Stormwater Conference in Hilton Head, SC.

Congratulations to 2025 SESWA Student Conference Scholarship winners.  In alphabetical order the winners are:

• Oluwatunmise E. Akanmu, Georgia Southern University
• Haven A. Hardy, University of Georgia
• Katie G. Hitt, Georgia College and State University
• Iaya Kamber, Lipscomb University
• Mohammad Khalid, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Ashmita Poudel, Auburn University
• Isabelle M. Zarsadias, North Carolina State University

Just a few of the comments we received from our scholarship winners -

"My biggest professional takeaway is that stormwater management is not just about infrastructure, it’s about people, partnerships, and purpose."

"The conference reinforced the importance of continuous learning and innovation to design more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective stormwater solution."

"I left the conference with a stronger sense of direction, a deeper appreciation for the stormwater field, and meaningful professional connections that I will carry forward in my career."