WEFTEC on a Dime
Attending WEFTEC as a student can be challenging, both on the financial and educational side. This guide provides you with step-by-step instructions for getting to WEFTEC and all the events as economically as possible.
Registration Students & Young Professionals Committee Communications Airfare Hotel Water Palooza WEF Community Service Project Jammin' 4 Water Career Fair Student Design Competition Annual Student Chapter Meeting Complimentary Professional Headshots Meals
REGISTRATION
WEFTEC Registration is FREE for WEF Student Members!
- If you are a WEF student member, register for WEFTEC online.
- If you are not a WEF member, become a member before registering for the conference
As you register for WEFTEC, be sure to indicate if you will be attending the WEF Community Service Project on Saturday, September 31st. Transportation will be provided from the Chicago Hilton (720 S. Michigan Avenue) to the project location. Buses will begin loading at 8:00 am and will be departing by 9:00am. Lunch and a T-shirt will be provided. Buses will arrive back at the convention center by 4 p.m.
Students and Young Professionals Committee Communications
Please reach out to Brad Lovett or Ama Richardson to receive access to the SYPC WEFTEC 2023 WhatsApp mobile messenger. (blovett@wef.org; arichardson@wef.org). Coordinate transportation to and from conference, look for open rooms, hear about events/receptions throughout the week.
Airfare
Book air reservations early to get the best deals. Visit the WEFTEC site for information on airports and ground transportation. Check out the City of Chicago’s site for WEFTEC attendees for recommendations and tips to get around: https://www.choosechicago.com/meetings/weftec2023/#eventInfo
Hotel
Check out the Conference Housing Site to secure WEFTEC-related blocks of rooms through CMR, https://hsg.cmrus.com/weftec2023/Housing/Info Call a WEFTEC housing customer care agent at 1-888-301-4933 (toll-free U.S. and Canada) or 1-415-9792298 (globally) to reserve through this dedicated block. Reference group code “STUD.” Customer care agents are available Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 9:00 pm EDT. Students should use the code “STUD” when speaking to the agent.
Events
Below is a summary of events throughout WEFTEC that are hosted or sponsored by the SYPC.
Friday, September 30
Location: Ole A. Thorp Elementary Scholastic Academy
When: 8:00am-4:00pm.
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. Contact WEF Staff Ama Richardson (aricharson@wef.org) if interested in participating.
Saturday, September 31
WEF Community Service Project, 8:00am – 4:00pm.
Location: Ole A. Thorp Elementary School
The Annual WEF Community Service Project, organized by the WEF Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC), offers WEFTEC participants an opportunity to give back to the Chicago local host community. Volunteers should be prepared to build, plant, paint, and/or rehabilitate an outdoor worksite. Registration for the service project is free and open to all WEFTEC participants. Volunteers will receive transportation to and from the worksite, a t-shirt, lunch, and a WEF Community Service Project ribbon for their WEFTEC badge. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own water bottle to keep hydrated and help us reduce the disposal footprint.
The project will serve as an educational platform for the community to learn about water, the environment, and green infrastructure. To volunteer at the event, add the “WEF Community Service Project” to your WEFTEC Registration.
* Transportation will be provided from the Hilton Chicago WEFTEC HQ Hotel (720 South Michigan Ave) to the project location. Buses will begin loading at 8:30am and will be departing by 9:00am. Buses will arrive back at the Hilton by 4:00pm.
For those going to Jammin’ 4 Water, coordinate independent rides/carpool
Jammin’ 4 Water, 5:00pm – 1:00am.
Location: Park West: 322 W Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614
Jammin’ 4 Water features the musical talents of water quality professionals benefiting the WEF Community Service Project as well as Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene focused charities. Jammin’ 4 Water provides Students and Young Professionals participating in the WEF Community Service project with discounted tickets to the event. Learn more at http://www.jammin4water.org/.
This year, the SYP’s will have a Come join us on stage!!
Sunday, October 1
Student Design Competition, 8:00am – 6:00pm. Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
Wastewater Category: Room S102b, Level 1 Water Environment Category: Room S103b, Level 1 Awards Reception and Ceremony: 5:15pm – 6pm, Room S102b, Level 1
Students from across the Federation will present their design projects in both the wastewater and environmental topic areas. For more information, visit the WEF Student Design Competition webpage.
SDC participants will receive lunch cards for Sunday and Monday lunches inside McCormick Place. These will have $50 total for each student, for two lunches, to be used anywhere inside the Convention Center.
Monday, October 2
Annual Student Chapter Meeting, 10:00am – 11:00am. Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL Room Location: Room S103b, Level 1
Network with other student chapters, share ideas, and learn how we can help as you begin your professional career. Students & Young Professionals Committee Meeting, 11:00 – 12:00pm. Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL Room Location: Room S103b, Level 1
Young Professionals, Students, Academics, and Member Association Leaders are invited to attend this meeting held annually at WEFTEC. Come help shape WEFTEC programs for students & young professionals.
Career Fair, 1:00pm – 4:00pm. Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL North Hall B, Booth 6770 Network with over 20 companies on the leading edge of the water sector looking for new graduates to hire!
HINT: Email your resume directly to Brad Lovett, blovett@wef.org, by August 31st, 2023, so it can be added to the resume book that is handed out to participating companies. The resume book is compiled and share with all participating companies before WEFTEC. They often begin outreach before the on-site career event.
Complimentary Professional Headshots:
WEF will be providing complimentary professional headshots to all attendees. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to capture a polished and professional portrait. To schedule your headshot appointment visit: https://tinyurl.com/Headshots-Registration Where? Booth 6533, North Hall B When? Monday & Tuesday, October 2-3 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Wednesday, October 4 | 10:00 am – 3:30 pm You can also just swing by – but scheduling will help avoid wait times.
Meals
There are a number of receptions and events that are held throughout WEFTEC where a student member can eat for free while networking with peers and other industry professionals.
Saturday, September 31
Service Project, 9:00am – 4:00pm. Location: Ole A. Thorp Academy
Sunday, October 1
Student Break Room, All day. Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, Room S104, Level 1. SDC participants will receive lunch cards for Sunday and Monday lunches inside McCormick Place. These will have $50 total for each student, for two lunches, to be used anywhere inside the Convention Center.
Monday, October 2
Black & Veatch Student & Professor Appreciation, 5:30-7:30 pm, Hubbard Inn – 110 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
Burns & McDonell’s Young Professionals Event, 5pm-7pm, drinks, food (mini-milkshakes!), Chicago Sports Museum, The Clubhouse & Upper Deck, Water Tower Place, Level 7, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611
RSVP by Friday, Sept. 22nd, here; https://bit.ly/45Kd020
WEF Students and Young Professionals Reception, 8pm – 10 pm, Hubbard Inn – 110 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
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. Hors d’oeuvres and mocktails will be provided. Cash bar available. A karaoke DJ will be spinning the entire evening! RSVP HERE
HINT: Many manufacturers and consultants host receptions throughout the event. Visit the exhibition floor to network with the exhibitors and consultants. Ask a YP to give you a tour of the exhibition floor if you are not comfortable venturing out there for the first time.
HINT: Determine when your member association (MA) will be hosting a reception. These usually have light food.
