Join the SYPC
The WEF Students and Young Professionals Community (SYPC) develops several regular programs that occur at WEFTEC. These programs drive innovation, enrich the expertise of water professionals, and increase the awareness of the value of water.
WEFTEC Attendance Justification Guide
When: Friday, September 29, 2023
Where: Ole A. Thorp Elementary Scholastic Academy
6024 W Warwick Ave, Chicago, IL 60634
Water Palooza is an environmental/water awareness fair that provides education to a local K-9 school in the WEFTEC area. Volunteers set up booths depicting all aspects of water quality/conservation and spend the day teaching students about their passion for water.
Join this day-long education fair and encourage students to become stewards of their water environment. Water Palooza occurs the Friday before WEFTEC at a local elementary school in Chicago: Friday, September 29, 2023 from 8:00am - 4:00pm.
Contact WEF Staff Ama Richardson if interested in volunteering at the event.
When: Saturday, September 30, 2023
8:00am - 4:00pm
The annual WEF Community Service Project, organized by the Students and Young Professionals Community (SYPC), offers WEFTEC participants an opportunity to give back to the local host community of Chicago. Prepare yourself to build, plant, paint, and rehabilitate an outdoor worksite. Registration for the Service Project is free and open to all WEFTEC participants.
The Service Project is held the Saturday before WEFTEC begins, on: Saturday, September 30, 2023, from 8:00am – 4:00pm.
To sign-up, add this event onto your registration (it's free!) when you register for WEFTEC. If you have already registered for WEFTEC, you can contact customer service and ask them to help you add this event to your profile.
Jammin' 4 Water features the musical talents of water quality professionals benefiting the WEF Community Service Project and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) charities. Jammin’ 4 Water provides students and young professionals participating in the WEF Community Service Project with discounted tickets to the event.
Jammin’ 4 Water will be held on Saturday, September 30th at Park West: 322 W Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614. Tickets are available at jammin4water.org or through WEFTEC registration.
Learn more at www.jammin4water.org.
The WEFTEC Student Design Competition (SDC), organized annually by the SDC Planning Committee, provides university student teams from WEF Member Associations (MAs) an opportunity to gain real world design experience by producing a written and verbal design project. WEF offers wastewater
design and environmental design categories to encourage students of all technical backgrounds to participate. The top 4 teams from each category are recognized, with approximately 25 teams from approximately 5 countries competing annually.
Support our WEF students! The presentation schedule will be posted on the SDC webpage before WEFTEC, https://www.wef.org/membership--community/students--young-professionals/yp-student design/. The day ends with an awards ceremony and light fare. Sunday, October 1, 8:15am – 6:00pm.
Wastewater: McCormick Place, room S102b – Level 1.
Water Environment: McCormick Place, room S103b – Level 1.
The Awards Reception with light fare is held from 5:15pm – 6:00pm, Room S102b – Level 1.
This annual event draws companies seeking to recruit the talent that comes to WEFTEC. Network with multiple companies on the leading edge of the water sector who are looking for new graduates to hire. You can also get a complimentary headshot for professional use while there.
Twenty companies will be on-site for the WEFTEC SYP Career Fair, with private interview booth space available for the day of interviews. Monday October 2, 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Location: McCormick Place, North Hall B, Booth 6770. And be sure to submit your resume to be included in the “resume book” that goes out to participating Career Fair companies by Wednesday, August 30th, to Brad Lovett (blovett@wef.org). Companies frequently use this resource to reach out to potential hires before WEFTEC.
Network with other student chapters, share ideas, and learn how WEF can help as you begin your professional career from the Student Activities Community, a subcommunity of the WEF Students & Young Professionals Community (SYPC). We will also hear from the 2023 Student Chapter of the Year Award recipients - the Alabama Water Environment Association, Azalea Chapter, at the University of South Alabama. Monday, October 2 from 10:00am - 11:00am in Room S103b - Level 1 at McCormick Place.
WEF Students & Young Professionals Committee Meeting
Join us to learn more about WEF programs for students and young professionals. Young professionals, students, academics, mentors, and Member Association leaders are invited to attend this annual meeting at WEFTEC. Monday, October 2 from 11:15am - 12:15pm in Room S103b - Level 1 at McCormick Place.
Come celebrate with students and young professionals (YPs) in the water sector! Students and YPs are invited to meet up, network, and learn more about the WEF Students and Young Professionals Community (SYPC) and SYPC Programs. Monday, October 2 from 8pm - 10pm (CST) at the Hubbard Inn - 110 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654.
Hors d’oeuvres and mocktails will be provided. Cash bar available. A karaoke DJ will be spinning the entire evening!
Attendees of any age (21+ and under 21) are welcome and encouraged to attend.
If you have any questions, please contact WEF YP Staff Liaison, Ama Richardson.