The 2005-2006 HWEA awards schedule included the WEF Bedell and the WEF Laboratory Analyst Awards. If you would like to nominate someone for one of these awards next year, you can download the nomination forms listed below. A listing of all HWEA and WEF awardees can be seen by clicking here.
2005-2006 WEF ARTHUR SIDNEY BEDELL AWARDEE
The Arthur Sidney Bedell Award was established by WEF to acknowledge extraordinary personal service to a member association (i.e., HWEA). Criteria for this award include organizational leadership, administrative service, membership activity, stimulation of technical functions, or similar participation.
The 2005-2006 recipient of the Arthur Sidney Bedell award is Edie Eldeen, who is employed with the City & County of Honolulu's Department Environmental Services, Regulatory Control Branch. Edie has been a member of WEF since 1978 and has served previously as HWEA Membership Chair (1990 to 1996) and as HWEA Conference Co-Chair (2006). Prior to moving to Hawaii, Edie was also very active in the Iowa Water Environment Association.
In Iowa, Edie planned and facilitated 6 semi-annual 2-day seminars for water and wastewater operators in 1979 to 1988 and actively participated in seminars sponsored by the Iowa State University and Iowa University. She was a founding member of the Iowa Wastewater Laboratory certification program and holds certification in both water and wastewater operations in Iowa.
She is a member of the WEF Membership Committee and also a member of the WEF Membership Diamond Club since 1995, sponsoring over 125 new members. She served on the first national Operations Challenge team for Iowa. She has also served as a Operations Challenge laboratory event judge at the WEFTEC held in Kansas City. Edie has also volunteered much of her time to facilitate and promote HWEA and the wastewater treatment field in Hawaii.
Edie has an extensive background in wastewater treatment plant operations. Prior to coming to Hawaii in 1988, Edie worked over 10 years at several wastewater treatment plants in Iowa in supervisory capacities, including an industrial wastewater treatment facility. At many of the facilities, she was the direct responsible charge for the day to day operations of the plants.
Edie has been employed by the City & County of Honolulu since 1988. From 1988 to 1992, she has worked as a Grade IV Operator at the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant, operating the multiple hearth furnace. From 1992 to 1999, she served as a Supervisor III assigned to the Wahiawa Wastewater Treatment Plant. There, she was not only responsible for the Wahiawa WWTP, but also the Whitmore Village Pretreatment Facility, Mililani Pretreatment Facility and nine employees. Duties included operations and maintenance of the facilities under a State of Hawaii Consent Decree. She also assisted in the pre-construction phase of the plant upgrade, perform public education tours and talks, trained new employees, wrote reports, conducted compliance monitoring, sampling, laboratory testing, procurement of supplies, grounds maintenance, and plant security. During this span of time, the plant received operational compliance awards each year.
Edie is currently the responsible charge of the City’s Liquid Waste Hauler Program. Her current duties include permitting, enforcement, compliance monitoring discharge sites, sampling, compliance monitoring of hauler submitted discharge reports, report writing, investigation work, maintenance of six individual databases, public education, forms design, hauler discharge billings pretreatment device inspection and enforcement, user permit program assistance, and procurement.
Edie's contributions to HWEA and the water environment field have been considerable and she is always willing to put forth effort to educate people about the field. For these reasons, we congratulate Edie Eldeen as the 2005 – 2006 recipient of the Arthur Sidney Bedell Award. You can click here or on the thumbnail photo above to see a larger image of Edie receiving her award from 2005 - 2006 WEF Past-President Lynn Orphan.
2005-2006 WEF LAB ANALYST EXCELLENCE AWARD
The Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award recognizes individuals for outstanding performance, professionalism, and contributions to the water quality analysis profession. Criteria for this award include: 1) employment involving direct analytical responsibilities at an educational, industrial, commercial, or municipal laboratory which performs wastewater related analysis 2) involvement in WEF/HWEA and other professional organizations; 3) outstanding efforts in the area of wastewater and environmental aquatic analyses; 4) involvement in community activities and public relations; 5) presentations at professional conferences, meetings, etc. relevant to water quality analysis; 6) professional certifications; 7) continuing education; 8) contributions beneficial to the nominee's facility; and 9) unusual initiative or performance "beyond the call of duty."
The 2005-2006 recipient of the Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award goes to Merlita Cabauatan of the City & County of Honolulu. Merlita is currently a Sanitary Chemist I assigned to the Leeward Region, primarily at the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant. Merlita is essentially in charge of performing all process control analyses required by operations to make process control adjustments. Her pleasing personality and hard working attitude have gained her the respect and full cooperation of the operations and maintenance staff. Merlita also works with City environmental engineers from her division to perform special projects not only for the Honouliuli WWTP, but for the Department as a whole. Because of her willingness to accept jobs, she has become a valuable asset to the organization. She has also served in the facilities safety committee program, and annually serves as one of the instructors in teaching the mandatory Sexual Harassment class.
Merlita is an active member of the HWEA Laboratory Committee, and volunteers her time to organize the laboratory event at the annual Operations Challenge by gathering equipment and supplies necessary for the event. She has also participated as a member of the Honouliuli Operations Challenge team, and has helped to coach the team. She has also participated in past conference presentations, demonstrating laboratory analysis techniques.
Merlita has been very active in various community activities over the years. She serves as committee chair for the Cub Scout Pack 136, which administers and supervises cub scout leaders. She is responsible for all administrative activities necessary to keep the organization functional, including registration, social functions, accounting, classes and fund raising. She has also been very active in her parish, contributing her time to decorate the altar every Sunday. Merlita has also been a PTA member, volunteering for activities such as fund raising, field trip chaperon, social activities, classroom helper, library inventory volunteer, and serving as a driver to transport kids to various educational activities.
Merlita also has a brown belt in karate. Part of her activity besides teaching white belt students is to get involved in humanitarian projects like collecting canned goods for the homeless and donating to the food bank. She also helps coordinate and organize school karate tournaments, such as assembling trophies and keeping score. She has participated in tournaments both locally and on the mainland. As if a day has 48 hours, Merlita also dances hula on weekends and performs free at various venues when requested!
Merlita’s accurate and timely laboratory results have contributed greatly in the efficient and effective operation of the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant. Her willingness to share her knowledge and go “beyond the call of duty” is to be commended. We congratulate Merlita Cabauatan, recipient of the 2005 - 2006 WEF Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award. You can click here or on the thumbnail photo above to see a larger image of Merlita receiving her award from 2005 - 2006 WEF Past-President Lynn Orphan.
HWEA AWARDS
In addition to the WEF-sponsored awards mentioned above, HWEA sponsors additional awards which are specific to our association. Some of the awards which recognize members for outstanding service or achievement to the association are as follows.
HWEA SERVICE AWARD
The HWEA Service Award is presented annually to the outgoing HWEA National Director, President, PWO Representative, and Specialty Committee Chairs. The award is generally given at the annual HWEA conference banquet.
HWEA APPRECIATION AWARD
The HWEA Appreciation Award is given to Specialty Committee members who provide outstanding service to the association. Awardees are usually nominated by their respective Specialty Committee Chairpersons. The award is generally given at the annual conference executive committee breakfast.
HWEA OPERATIONS CHALLENGE
The Operations Challenge Award is presented to the winner of the annual HWEA conference Operations Challenge which tests the skills of professional wastewater operators. The winning team qualifies for the national Operations Challenge at the annual WEFTEC conference and expo. The award is generally presented at the luncheon on the last day of the annual HWEA conference.
OTHER HWEA PROFESSIONAL WASTEWATER OPERATOR AWARDS
Other professional wastewater operator awards include the Operations Achievement, Bill Hong Operator of the Year, and Operations Incentive Awards.
HWEA SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Scholarships and tuition reimbursements are awarded by HWEA on an annual basis for members and their immediate family. Award criteria is based on academic achievement in the water environment protection field.
If there is someone you know in the HWEA that is deserving of any of the above awards, the HWEA would appreciate your submission of a nomination. Nominations are to be submitted by turning in an HWEA nomination form. E-mail: info@hwea.org for more information. Additional information can also be obtained by e-mailing pwo-representative@hwea.org for the Hatfield award, or by e-mailing laboratory@hwea.org for the Laboratory Analyst Excellence award.
