Wood County Project

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At Ozarka Spring Water, we are passionate about the importance of water education. We have joined efforts with groups like the Texas Water Foundation and Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) to help bring new opportunities to Texas classrooms and raise awareness about water conservation, protection and management. Now and in the future, Ozarka hopes to create new learning experiences for Texas students who share our dedication to preserving the environment and acting as responsible stewards of our natural resources.

“Every Drop Counts” Scholarship Fund

Ozarka is pleased to create a new, annual statewide scholarship fund of $30,000 to be awarded to Texas students who wish to pursue degrees in the Earth Sciences. The fund is divided into two groups: local scholarships for high-school seniors in our spring site school districts and statewide scholarships for any Texas resident pursuing higher education in the Earth Sciences at any accredited four-year college or university.

Local High-School Seniors:

The superintendents of the following Independent School Districts will take nominations from teachers and select the “Every Drop Counts” recipient each school year. Scholarships are merit-based and intended for a qualified high-school senior who plans to enroll in a four-year, not-for-profit, college or university program upon graduation:

Harmony Springs, Harmony ISD: $2500

Holly Springs, Hawkins ISD: $2500

Roher Spring, Eustace ISD: $2500

Moffitt Spring, Huntsville ISD $2500

Statewide Scholarships:

Ozarka Spring Water will award two $10,000 scholarships annually to qualified students who are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a public or private, not for profit, four-year college or university program. Ozarka will accept applications from United States Citizens who are Texas residents with a minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average. In addition, students must write an essay about why they are currently pursuing a degree in the Earth Sciences, detailing courses of study.

To obtain a copy of scholarship rules and an application click on the links below:

Every Drop Counts Scholarship Rules

Every Drop Counts Scholarship Application

Or visit us at the Ozarka website at www.ozarkawater.com/DoingOurPart/Default.aspx.

Contact:          Ozarka Natural Spring Water
                                    “Every Drop Counts” Scholarship Fund
                                    Attn: David Feckley/Catherine Herter
                                    3265 FM 2869
                                    Hawkins, TX 75765

If there are any questions please contact us at 888-409-4424 or you can send an e-mail to info@perriergroup.com. We will respond as soon as possible.

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Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)

Founded in 1984, Project WET is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to teaching children around the United States and the world about water stewardship. It is interdisciplinary, emphasizing creative hands-on learning activities, and embraces the natural and social sciences, mathematics and the arts.

Designed for students in kindergarten through high school, the curriculum and activity guide is “by educators and for educators” and was created with input from an array of national water education programs, including the Council for Environmental Education in Houston, Texas. Project WET is grounded in the belief that…

	Water is important for everyone (for example, energy producers, farmers and ranchers, fish and wildlife, manufacturers, recreationists, and rural and urban dwellers).
	Wise water management is crucial for providing tomorrow's children social and economic stability in a healthy environment;
	Awareness of and respect for water resources can encourage a personal, lifelong commitment to responsible and positive community participation.

Since 1998 when Nestlé Waters North America frst became actively involved with Project WET, numerous employees of Ozarka have volunteered and been trained as Project WET facilitators, working with students and teachers in local schools and water festivals around the country to help increase understanding of the importance of groundwater and springs.

Ozarka and Project WET

For teachers who would like to incorporate water education into his or her classroom, Ozarka is proud to sponsor local and regional training seminars for all teachers in Wood County and in other Ozarka spring site communities. The Project WET course has been certified by the Texas Department of Education as an accredited environmental course under the TEEAC guidelines (see below):

Ozarka will provide:

	Local and regional training seminars convenient to Wood County teachers.
	All necessary learning materials including the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide.
	Dedicated “WET” accounts for schools and teachers to provide learning materials in the classroom with no personal out-of-pocket expense.
	Ongoing availability of the education facilities at the Hawkins facility, scheduled for completion in January 2003.

* The Texas Environmental Education Advisory Committee (TEEAC) coordinates with other state agencies that are charged with the development of environmental education materials. TEEAC cooperates with a network of 120 providers of environmental education professional development, including universities, industry, museums and nature centers. This network of TEEAC Sites and Programs helps assure that teacher professional development offered by formal and non-formal providers is educationally sound and consistent with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).