The first thing I noticed when I came to attend the ACE16 conference was how massive the event was. I had never been to a big city like Chicago and I had never been to a conference of that magnitude. I admit I was a little overwhelmed when I first got there. Luckily for me the conference was equipped with helpful tips to allow the newcomers to feel a little more at home. That aspect was what really opened my eyes to future possibilities. The conference was supplied with so many different activities where I could easily network and meet a wide variety of people from different fields within the water industry. It gave me a greater perspective of what’s out there and what I am capable of doing. The conference also provided me with opportunities to meet individuals who could potentially become my boss someday.

I felt especially grateful to be among the scholarship recipients. It was an honor to be surrounded by and meet so many great minds. It had been a goal of mine since high school to attain scholarships to help pay for my schooling, thus to enable me to focus more fully on my studies. Receiving this scholarship will allow me to accomplish that goal and has opened so many doors for my future career. I am grateful I could be a part of the ACE16 conference and even more grateful that I could be a recipient of the Bryant L. Bench Scholarship. It truly is an honor.