I chose to study engineering to transform perspectives. While living abroad, I was lucky to experience different landscapes and cultures. Being born outside of the US, and living in other countries, has constantly reminded me of the different hurdles that come with living abroad—you have to adapt. As more people start moving into cities, communities...

Meet Xavier Vera, student at California State University, Fresno and Civil Engineering Intern at MKN. Xavier is a recipient of the Kirt Brooks Memorial Water Environment Scholarship in 2022. When did you first know you wanted to work in the water profession? I decided I wanted to work in water resource engineering, my first year in...

Patricia Macatugal is currently a second-year graduate student attending California State University, Long Beach to receive her Master’s in Water Resources Engineering. She received her Bachelor’s in Science for Civil Engineering at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Patricia started her engineering journey in a high school environmental science class which ultimately got her thinking about...

CWEA’s Kirt Brooks Memorial Scholarship was named after Kirtland “Kirt” Brooks, Association Manager and Bulletin editor for several years in the 1980’s. Kirt had joined the Association in the mid-60’s and become active in the San Francisco bay section and several other northern California sections. Kirt believed that by improving the technical qualification of operators...

Meet Juan Guerreiro, Interim Assistant Director City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, a recipient of the Kirt Brooks Memorial Water Environment Scholarship in 2006. Juan received a Dual-Associate of Science degree in Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations from Cuyamaca College but he didn’t stop there. Going on to get his Master’s, he also...

Meet Cari Dale, Water Utilities Director, City of Oceanside, a recipient of the Kirt Brooks Memorial Water Environment Scholarship in 2004. Cari graduated from Cal State San Bernardino with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with an emphasis on Water Resources in 2005. Her Master’s project focused on Achieving Effective Asset Management for Water and Wastewater...

Meet Michael Cunningham, EIT, a recipient of the Kirt Brooks Memorial Water Environment Scholarship in 2013. Michael graduated from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Switzerland where he focused on water/wastewater treatment process modeling and experimental work. He is grateful for his colleagues at Central Contra Costa Sanitary District who knew he was planning to...