Warwick Sewer Authority awards Scholarships to Warwick Seniors
For the fourth year in a row, the Warwick Sewer Authority has awarded scholarships to three college bound Warwick Seniors. Checks in the amount of $2,000.00 were presented to Michael Danna from Warwick Veterans Memorial High School, Molly Smith from Pilgrim High School, and Kathryn Romelczyk from Toll Gate High School. The scholarships are awarded in memory of John A. Caruso, a past chairman of the Warwick Sewer Authority.
The scholarships resulted from collaboration between the Sewer Authority’s Industrial Pre-Treatment Program (IPP), and then superintendent of the Warwick School department, Robert Shapiro. As part of its public outreach, the IPP provides three, one-year scholarships (one per public high school) in the amount of $2,000.00 each, to our chosen award recipients. Awardees are chosen based on several criteria including grades, letters of recommendation, participation in extracurricular activities and/or community service, financial need, etc. This information is provided by the student as part of the scholarship award application. A panel comprised of WSA staff members & Board members reviews the applications and determines which applicant will be the recipient from each of the three high schools.
The WSA’s Industrial Pretreatment Program was established back in the early 1980’s as required by the Federal Government. In an effort to protect Warwick’s sewer collection system, treatment facility, Pawtuxet River and Narragansett Bay, the IPP ensures that wastewater discharge permits are in place for of all Warwick based industrial and commercial facilities discharging wastewater to the Warwick Sewer System. Facilities that violate conditions contained within their permit are subject to fines of up to $25,000 per day per violation. Most permit infractions are inconsequential, sporadic, non-compliant events constituting minor penalties ($50.00 - $100.00). These minor infractions, however, escalate when a facility is identified as a repeat violator. Each year, the IPP reserves a portion of the collected fine money for its Public Outreach Fund.
From its inception in 2003 to present day, the John A. Caruso Scholarship Award program has distributed a total of $27,900.00 in scholarship money amongst 15 of our most exceptional, and very grateful, Warwick High School graduates.
“We are very pleased to assist these gifted students as they pursue their educational goals,” stated Warwick Sewer Authority Chairman, Tom Stone. “We are especially pleased that we can put this fine money to good use.”
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