Meet the 2024 WAVE Cohort!
The WAVE program engages students and emerging professionals from diverse backgrounds with the water industry through a series of workshops and attendance of the 2024 PNCWA conference. The workshops focus on the various paths within the water industry, networking, skills development, employment opportunities, and conference preparation. Each month until the conference, we will highlight our participants. Here is a quick introduction of Victor, Michelle, Mia, and Georgina!
Victor Garcia
Undergraduate Business Administration student at Heritage University| Yakima, WA
Why are you interested in the water industry?
The water industry is valuable to the health of our society, I would love the chance to work in it to support the hard workers in the field with the business knowledge I'm developing. If possible, I'd be happy to change how the water industry is seen here in Yakima since I know some of my friends have water they don't feel safe drinking.
What's one thing you hope to get out of this program?
I hope to get some networking with people and if possible, an internship or employment in a business.
What do you like to do in your free time? Or fun fact about you?
A fun fact about me is that I know three languages: English, Spanish, and ASL. In a way the languages I know represent the cultures that I grew up with having migrant parents while trying to learn English and ASL to communicate with the world.
Michelle Gossick
Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering student at Clackamas Community College | Molalla, OR
Why are you interested in the water industry?
Observing changes in water levels growing up near Clear Lake and Mendocino Lake of Northern California sparked curiosity in how water is managed. Eventually history of water management and its various impacts became of interest, considering water is a fundamental need. Learning about the water industry of my region will also broaden my knowledge set and skills as I work towards becoming an engineer.
What's one thing you hope to get out of this program?
I look forward to the opportunity to build my network with peers and employers of the industry, and understand how the water industry in the Pacific Northwest functions is connected with other industries.
What do you like to do in your free time? Or fun fact about you?
I enjoy drawing and painting, decorating, writing, baking, playing guitar, clarinet, and piano, camping, hiking, swimming, and shooting.
Marlia (Mia) Hills
Wastewater Engineer, King County| Seattle, WA
Completed a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington
Why are you interested in the water industry?
Wastewater is always going to be around since people will always need to use the bathroom. Our infrastructure will not only need to be updated just to keep up with aging equipment, but for population growth. Playing a role in developing/designing upgraded or new infrastructure to keep wastewater out of nearby bodies of water, thereby protecting neighboring communities and wildlife is extremely important to me!
What's one thing you hope to get out of this program?
I hope to build lasting connections with my fellow young professionals
What do you like to do in your free time? Or fun fact about you?
I love to run and teach/take pilates classes!
Georgina Mukwirimba
Master’s student in Water Resources Policy and Management at Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR
Completed a BEng in Civil and Water Engineering
Why are you interested in the water industry?
International Development Work, Water Management and Policies, Water Engineering (water supply and sanitation), Water Security, Water Governance, Water and Climate Nexus
What's one thing you hope to get out of this program?
Professional Development, Networking and Job Prospects
What do you like to do in your free time? Or fun fact about you?
Outdoor activities, music concerts, games (bowling, table pool, etc.), watching documentaries (sports, wildlife), catering(cooking) and events planning, public speaking and advocacy, socializing and networking, walks, traveling.
Calling all WAVErs past and present!
Hope y’all are ready for the summer and excited for some WAVE group events! We are meeting for a happy hour in Seattle at Stoup Brewery – Capitol Hill (1158 Broadway, Seattle) on June 27th from 5:30pm-7:30pm. Feel free to come and go as your schedule allows. It would be awesome to see some of you there!