FGWA's John Kriska Memorial Scholarship Fund

The 2025 Scholarship Application IS OPEN!  THIS APPLICATION WILL CLOSE on april 1, 2025. 

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

NEW IN 2025: Trade School students can receive the scholarship! University scholarships will be awarded at $2,000 each and Trade School scholarships will be awarded at $500 each.

The John Kriska Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by a group of donors in the 1970’s to honor respected Florida Ground Water Association officer John Kriska, who died in a tragic car accident. Since its inception nearly fifty years ago, the scholarship has transformed from a privately funded scholarship to being financed by FGWA. Since 1976, the FGWA has granted over 216 college scholarships totaling over $218,000 to students who are relatives of FGWA members (as of 2024).

The FGWA John Kriska Memorial Scholarship Fund awards up to $20,000 annually to FGWA members and/or the spouses, children, legal dependents, or grandchildren of FGWA members who have been in good standing for the past three years.  University scholarships will be awarded at $2,000 each and Trade School scholarships will be awarded at $500 each.  The scholarship will be sent to the University/School directly to be used towards tuition, lab fees, textbooks, and supplies.

Eligibility Requirements
  1. Be a member, spouse, child, legal dependent, or grandchild of an FGWA member (the FGWA member must have been a member in good standing for the past three years). Members can be an individual member or a contact of an FGWA Corporate Member that has been a member in good standing for the past three years.
    1. Employees of an FGWA Corporate Member interested in applying for a scholarship, need to be added to the corporate membership and pay applicable fees (if any). 
  2. Have a minimum of a 2.0 overall GPA through current school work;
  3. If the applicant is currently in high school, they must be a high school senior eligible to enroll in college for the following fall semester or a current full-time degree-seeking/college student;
  4. You may apply multiple times, however first time applicants will take preference;
  5. APPLICANTS INTENDING TO PURSUE A WATER WELL RELATED PROFESSION WILL BE GIVEN PRIOIRTY;
  6. Individuals can receive the scholarship up to three times;
  7. Submit the application along with a copy of the applicant’s official transcript to the FGWA office by April 1st.
  8. If you receive a scholarship, you will be required to submit a headshot/photo and a testimonial to be used in future scholarship promotion on the FGWA website and emails. Documents must be received by the FGWA no later than May 30th and can be sent to [email protected].

* PLEASE NOTE: If you are a high school senior and have been selected to receive this scholarship and are not yet enrolled in the college of choice; it is YOUR responsibility to notify the FGWA office when you have become enrolled. Scholarship funds will be forwarded to the school ONLY once you are enrolled.

Timeline
The window to submit your application is from January 15 – April 1. Applicants are notified in early May.