The Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) is the most prestigious international youth award for a water science research project. Its purpose is to increase students' interest in water-related issues and research, and to sensitize them - as future leaders - to global water challenges.
HRH Crown Princess Victoria is the patron of the prize. In a royal ceremony during the annual World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, the international winner receives a cash award and a blue crystal sculpture in the shape of a water droplet, crafted by Hanne Dreutler.
In the United States, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and its Member Associations (MAs) organize the U.S. National, State, and Regional SJWP competitions with support from ITT Industries and The Coca-Cola Company. The U.S. National SJWP winner receives $2,500 and a five-day, all expense paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden. Up to four finalists receive $500 each.
The competition for the SJWP award is open to projects aimed at improving the quality of life through improvement of water quality, water resources management, water protection or water and wastewater treatment. The projects can apply these criteria, for example, by focusing on water environment problems or improving water management in schools, communities or water basins. The SJWP welcomes contestants in theoretical and applied science as well as projects aimed at solving community water problems. The projects may focus on local, regional, national or global topics. It is essential that all projects use a research oriented approach, which means that they should use scientifically accepted methodologies for experimentation, monitoring and reporting the results, including statistical analyses.
2003 Hawai‘i Awardee
In April 2003, the Hawai‘i Water Environment Association (HWEA) chose Ms. Kiana L. Frank, a high school junior from Kamehameha Schools as the State SJWP winner at the 46th Hawai‘i State Science and Engineering Fair. HWEA awarded Kiana a $250 prize and sponsored airfare for her and her parent to this year's national competition. The national competition was a three-day all expenses paid program that began on June 5 and ended with an awards presentation on June 7. Aside from the academic pursuit of excellence, students were treated to a "Luau night" (complete with seashell center pieces, conga lines and limbo......limbo???), a dude ranch night (with horseback riding, line dancing, and campfires), and the final night included a medieval theme event.
In a ceremony held Saturday, June 7, Kiana was one of four finalists who competed for the national SJWP in Dallas, Texas. Kiana was selected as a finalist from a pool of 37 state SJWP winners. She received $500 for this national competition.
The national winner was Ms. Heather Mispagel, a Georgia High School student from Athens, Georgia who was awarded $2,500 and received an all-expense paid trip to Stockholm, Sweden for the international competition.
Kiana's project was entitled, "The Effect of Agricultural and Residential Runoff on the Microbiology of a Hawaiian Ahupua'a." Her project examined the relationship between environmental runoff and the incidence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria in freshwater streams. You can click here to view her abstract in Adobe pdf format. After returning to the islands from the national competition, Kiana stated, "The SJWP competition was very exciting and just an amazing experience." She even had an opportunity to dance the hula. She further stated, "Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity."
Below are some photos of Kiana's at the national competition:
Photo of the 4 finalists (L-R): Bjorn Von Euler (ITT), Kiana Frank (Hawai‘i), Vijay Yanamadala (California), Robert McMillon (WEF), Alexandria Hope Antonioli (Montana), Sean Raj (Texas), and Charles Sorber (University of Texas at Austin) |
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Kiana accepting her finalist award |
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Kiana and her presentation board |
Kiana and friend Tyler at "Luau" night |
Last Updated: January 14, 2007