Grants provide water, drought education to Riverside County students
Riverside, Calif. – Students in western Riverside County will receive much-needed grant funds for water education projects thanks to Western’s Lois B. Krieger Grant Program. Through the popular program, Western is awarding nearly $14,000 to teachers from Riverside County schools for classroom water education projects.
Each year, Western offers grant funding opportunities to teachers who wish to complete a water education project. Many of this year’s project applications included elements that had a direct correlation to California’s drought, which continues to be a hot topic for all of California.
“This year’s grant funding will be instrumental in ensuring that local students continue to learn about and appreciate where California’s water comes from. It’s important for students to know how important it is for all of us to have reliable water sources and use them efficiently,” said Craig Miller, deputy general manager at Western. “The Lois B. Krieger grants allow teachers to take their lessons to an elevated level. Each teacher is able to add hands-on elements that would not have been available without our grants.”
Twenty-four kindergarten to high school teachers throughout Western’s service area received grants that will fulfill lesson plans in a myriad of topics and subjects.
Liselle DeGrave, Western’s educational outreach specialist, added that Western strives to equip educators with water education resources needed for supplies that are often not covered by the school system due to budget constraints.
The Lois B. Krieger grants are awarded on behalf of the Water Education Advisory Council (WEAC), sponsored by Western. The Council is comprised of local Riverside County water agencies and cities who have a vested interest in water education in the region. Each year the council chooses grant recipients who submit applications for projects that demonstrate exemplary water-related lessons for their students.
The grant program’s namesake, Lois B. Krieger, was a pioneer in the water industry and passionate about water education. Though she passed way in early 2014, the grants continue her steadfast commitment to water education.
• Rachell Auld, Ramirez Intermediate
• David Blake, Temescal Canyon High
• Teresa Bolton, Orrenmaa Elementary
• Julie Budwine, Sycamore Academy of Science
• Cynthia DeMone, Sherman Indian High
• Diane DeVasier, Elsinore High
• Erin Doup-Conner, Victoria Elementary
• Don Fitzgerald, Murrieta Valley High
• Kristy Foley, Sycamore Academy of Science
• Anna Foutz, John W. North High
• Glenda Haas, Railroad Canyon Elementary
• Sheri Harris, Arlington High
• Nona Jones, Sycamore Academy of Science
• Sunny Kaura, Centennial High
• Steve Oster, Arlington High
• Cassie Parilla, Orrenmaa Elementary
• Kelley Remington, Temescal Valley Elementary
• Jessie Rubner, William Collier
• Lara Soldmann, John W. North High
• Christopher Spencer, Santiago High
• Richandra Truesdale, Victoria Elementary
• Michelle Watters, Sycamore of Academy Science
• Rick Wolter, Elsinore High
• Elizabeth Yeager, Sierra Middle
Western Municipal Water District provides water supply, wastewater disposal and water resource management to the public in a safe, reliable, environmentally sensitive and financially responsible manner.
