The University of Minnesota - Water Resources Center’s Onsite Sewage Treatment Program (OSTP) is pleased to again provide a scholarship opportunity to cultivate onsite wastewater professionals across our industry in Minnesota. The OSTP, starting with Roger Machmeier, has long believed and supported the importance of educating onsite wastewater professionals in Minnesota and beyond using the common phrases Keep it simple (KISS), Keep it natural (KINN) and Keep it level (KILL). To honor this strong educational philosophy and pay it forward – we proudly announce the Keep It Going (KIGG) scholarship!
KIGG scholarship recipients will be awarded waived registration fees for select UM OSTP courses. We award a maximum of 2 scholarships per Certification workshop topic (listed below) for a total of up to ten awards. This is an annual scholarship with details announced each year with our educational workshop brochure/schedule. This award will cover registration expense only (any required manuals, supplies, lodging, etc. are the responsibility of the applicant). The KIGG scholarship committee reserves the right to review all submitted application materials, determine eligibility and award scholarships for education courses offered by the UM OSTP.
If you missed the announcement, application deadline or applied but were not awarded a scholarship, the UM OSTP plans to offer the KIGG scholarship annually. While details might change as we review and receive feedback, this opportunity will continue into the future. If you are interested in supporting this effort, the University of Minnesota Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been charged by the Regents of the University of Minnesota to receive and administer gifts on behalf of our KIGG scholarship in Fund 21850 – Onsite Sewage Treatment Program Fund.
Rules
- Applicant must have completed the U of M OSTP Certification course: Introduction to Onsite Systems and passed MPCA Introduction exam.
- Applicant must be seeking a new SSTS certification (new to SSTS or a new SSTS specialty area of certification).
- Applicant can only be awarded scholarship once.
- Applicant must complete the entire scholarship application to be considered.
- KIGG scholarship application must be completed and submitted by the deadline.
- KIGG scholarship is not available for Continuing Education Credits.
Applicants may apply for up to two of the following U of M OSTP educational Certification workshops
- Installing Onsite Systems
- Must have passed MPCA exam Introduction to Onsite Systems before applying
- Maintaining Onsite Systems
- Must have passed MPCA exam for Introduction to Onsite Systems before applying
- Service Provider
- Must have passed MPCA exam for Introduction to Onsite Systems before applying
- Basic Design of Onsite Systems
- Must have passed MPCA exams for Introduction to Onsite Systems and Soils before applying
- Inspecting Onsite Systems
- Must have passed MPCA Introduction to Onsite Systems and Soils before applying
- Intermediate Design and Inspection of Onsite Systems
- Must be a certified Basic Designer or certified Basic Inspector before applying
- Advanced Design and Inspection of Onsite Systems
- Must be a certified Intermediate Designer or certified Intermediate Inspector before applying
A two-year summary (2024-2025)
Over the past 2 years, the University of Minnesota’s Onsite Sewage Treatment Program has created an opportunity for new and existing wastewater professionals working in Minnesota to further their education through our annual KIGG scholarship program.
We have received a total of 31 applications in our first two years of our scholarship’s existence from all regions across Minnesota! Many of these applications (23 applicants) were from current professionals looking to expand their knowledge and services to the wastewater industry in Minnesota. Additionally, 8 applicants were new to the wastewater industry. Applicants have expressed interest in all seven knowledge and certification areas offered through our scholarship program. We are ecstatic to have awarded a total of 23 scholarship courses to 19 unique individuals over this short two-year period!!! Let’s keep it going…