NHA Awards First Past Presidents' Legacy Scholarship Award to William C. Garrard

“We believe that this scholarship provides a way to build on the contributions of our past presidents, while also reaching out to the industry’s future leaders,” said NHA executive director Linda Church Ciocci.  “I would love to see one of these scholarship winners take a leadership role in the industry – and maybe even become president of NHA.” 

NHA established the Past Presidents’ Legacy Scholarship this year to create a bridge to the future by helping the next generation of industry leaders complete their educations.  Funded with donations from NHA’s previous presidents and other contributors, the scholarship will serve as a legacy for the hydropower industry. 

“I am very proud of our Scholarship Founding Contributors.  As leaders in the hydropower industry we will attract some of America's best talent with this program.  As the first recipient, William has clearly set the bar for future applicants,” said George Martin, NHA 2005-2006 President and Founder of the Past Presidents' Legacy Scholarship. 

Garrard, the inaugural winner, is a junior at Penn State, where he is pursuing an undergraduate degree in information science and technology.  In applying for the scholarship, he stated that he hopes to use his education to advance the goal of turning society to a more “sustainable and clean energy” future.   

“Hydropower, since is it already so well established, will prove to be a leading component in any change” Garrard said.  “It can be seen quite thoroughly that my planned future as a proponent for renewable energy, in particular hydropower, will provide me with the opportunities to dramatically affect the natural world and the betterment of society.” 

A Murrysville, Pennsylvania, resident, Garrard credits his training as an Eagle Scout for awakening him to the need to balance both energy and environmental needs.   Among the many exemplary traits the Scout Law and Oath stresses, Garrard notes the call for “respect and honor for not only relations with other humans in society, but in dealings with nature as well.” 

To qualify for the Past President’s Legacy Scholarship, applicants must be full-time juniors, seniors, or graduate students with a 3.0 grade-point average at an accredited college, or have the equivalent average at an accredited vocational technical school.  All applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents.  

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NHA is a non-profit national association dedicated exclusively to advancing the interests of the U.S. hydropower industry, including the new waterpower technologies – ocean, tidal and instream hydrokinetic technologies.  The association represents 61 percent of domestic, non-federal conventional hydroelectric capacity in the U.S.  Its membership consists of more than 150 organizations including public utilities, investor-owned utilities, independent power producers, developers, equipment manufacturers, environmental and engineering consultants, and attorneys.