Erica T. Hanley of Wantagh, New York, Will Pursue Engineering Studies

Washington, D.C. (May 12, 2009) -- The National Hydropower Association is pleased to announce that it has awarded Erica T. Hanley of Wantagh, New York, with its prestigious Past Presidents' Legacy Scholarship for 2009.

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

"By awarding this scholarship, NHA is trying to extend the contributions our past presidents have made to the industry to a new generation of future industry leaders," said NHA Executive Director Linda Church Ciocci. "As a country, we need to develop the pool of talented engineers and scientists we have available in every sector. This will be particularly important in the hydropower industry, where we will need this expertise if we are to meet President Obama's challenge to double the country's renewable-energy generation."

Hanley plans to work toward a Master's Degree in Hydrological Engineering, specializing in subsurface hydrology at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. In applying for the scholarship, she stated that she hopes to use her education to develop new approaches for using groundwater as a potential source of both drinking water and power.

"Erica's interests happen to dovetail with the very issues we've been looking at during our annual conference this year," said Church Ciocci. "Our theme is 'Tapping the Future: Hydropower, Energy Demand, and Water Supply.' I can't think of a better way to demonstrate how the industry will prepare for the future than presenting this scholarship to someone who intends to pursue those very issues."

To qualify for the Past President’s Legacy Scholarship, applicants must be full-time juniors, seniors, or grad 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 and legal residents.

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