All student conference attendees are invited to attend this informal “Kick Off the Conference” Student Breakfast on the first morning of the conference, led by the AWRA Student Activities Planning Committee Chair. This is a great opportunity to get a head start on making lasting conference connections with your fellow student conference attendees. Meet at 7 AM sharp at the AWRA Conversation Corner at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel and head over as a group to a local breakfast spot. You are responsible for paying for your own breakfast.

Students who are interested in maximizing their conference experience are welcome to attend this orientation session. It will be structured in the format of a charette (the term “charette” is often used in architecture to describe an intense, creative, on-the-spot design project). As the architect of your career, this session will offer students the opportunity to network with other attendees while providing the information they need to design their own conference experience: learn about all the conference has to offer; network with students from around the country; envision a format that fits your personal needs; and design a plan of action that will help you make the most of your conference experience.

There is no charge for this orientation.

This event is included in the Registration Fee. All registered conference participants are invited to attend the Opening Networking Reception. Come greet old colleagues and make new acquaintances. Also, the Poster Session participants will be at their posters to answer any questions during the reception.

Additional tickets may be purchased on site at the AWRA Registration Desk. The cost of an additional ticket is $35.00.

All pre-registered participants are welcome to join us for a beautiful, casual 5K Fun Run! The run will follow a course (TBD) that will take in sights near the hotel. After the race, enjoy refreshments and AWRA door prizes!

There is no charge for this event but please sign up prior to the conference using the Conference Registration Form. (Please meet in hotel lobby at 6:15 a.m.)

Here’s your chance to catch up on the latest activities of our AWRA student chapters on campuses across the U.S. Student chapter officers will be presenting recent chapter activities with a focus on innovative events and outreach. The session will include a discussion aimed at fostering recently formed chapters as well re-invigorating established chapters. Student chapter advisors are encouraged to attend and join in the dialogue. If you are a student or potential faculty advisor with thoughts of starting a new chapter, we want to hear from you! The session will conclude with a brief discussion of AWRA’s role in supporting student chapters.

An opportunity such as this comes once in a lifetime! The Student Career Night will begin with a short presentation of success stories from a panel of professionals spanning a breadth of water resources careers. The session will focus on a wide variety of career options (non-profit to corporate) and will cater to both students just starting to explore their career options, and to undergraduate and graduate students who are ready for work. Students will learn about what experiences and opportunities are available in various water resources occupations and will learn how water, as a career, is evolving.

Following the panel presentation, AWRA will host its 2nd Annual “Speed Networking” session that will allow students to quickly meet and network with a variety of professionals from the water resources disciplines. Students will be paired with a professional member and will have 2-3 minutes to meet each other and to talk about their interests, professional aspirations, and career goals. Unlike “Speed Dating,” the objective of Speed Networking is to expand one’s professional network, so as to maximize one’s ability to refer colleagues to each other. Students will receive practical experience in meeting and talking with water resources professionals from a variety of fields, and will have the chance to exchange business cards. Students will be rotated every 2-3 minutes until they have had the opportunity to meet 15 or more professional members! Attendees are encouraged to eat dinner prior to this event.

This event is included in your conference registration fee. If you are not planning to attend the conference, but would like to attend this event, please contact farris.erika@epa.gov .

This event is included in the Registration Fee. Annually the American Water Resources Association recognizes those persons who have achieved excellence in water resources research, management, and education. All Conference participants are invited to attend. Additional tickets for accompanying guests may be purchased on site at the AWRA Registration Desk. The cost of an additional ticket is $40.00.

Come join us as we take a trip to Philadelphia’s Fairmount Water Works on the eastern bank of the Schuylkill River. Designed by Frederick Graff, the Water Works employed first steam engines then waterwheels, then water-driven Jonval turbines, not only delivering safe water to the citizens of Philadelphia but making this one of the most successful business enterprises of its day. It quickly became an international tourist attraction for both its technology and natural beauty of the grounds and the river. Some of the things you can do there: fly a helicopter simulation from the Delaware Bay to the headwaters of the Schuylkill River. Or visit Pollutionopolis, America's most contaminated and disgusting town, to see how a city can really mess up its water supply. Please do join us as we explore this wonder of Philadelphia. You can find out more about the Water Works by going to http://www.fairmountwaterworks.org .

The cost for this event is $15