Day in the Life of an InFLOW STEMpath Scholar—WEFTEC Edition
Authors: Adriana Mayr, Anahi Mendez Lozano, Carl Espinosa, Chathumi Thumbovila, Jeremy Eduave, Michelle Tai, Sadikul Islam, & Syan Smoot
Jump to a Day
Day 1-Arrival, Orientation, Meeting Lots of People (WLI Mentor, Roommates, WEF staff)
Writers: Carl Espinosa & Jeremy Eduave
After five weeks of virtual meetings, the time has come to meet the scholars and everyone behind this amazing program! Some drove to New Orleans while most flew. When we landed at Louis Armstrong Airport, we found out that some of us were on the same flight! It was exciting to finally meet the scholars who share the same interests and passion in water. Since some of us were heading to the same hotel, we shared a ride to the hotel and continued our conversation on the road. This year’s cohort was divided into two groups that stayed at two different hotels which started fun rivalry groups: “Embassy Sweets” vs. “Hampton Inn Peeps.” When we arrived at the hotel, we stayed in the lobby while waiting to get checked in and while we waited for other scholars to arrive. Shortly, more and more scholars started to arrive at the hotel, and we finally met our roommates. Having a roommate turned out to be a great way to build connections, as we became friends with our roommates and kept each other safe during the entire conference.
At orientation, we stepped into the convention center for the first time. It was a long building that stretches to about a mile! Inside, Julianne and Victoria greeted us with this iconic “InFLOW” sign they were holding up, and this sign would eventually be with us everywhere we go. During the orientation, they walked us through the upcoming events and gave us a tour of the building, making sure we were familiar with all the key areas. After the tour, we headed to the registration booth to get our badges in the exhibit hall. As we entered the exhibit hall, we were welcomed with a big WEFTEC sign and the group couldn’t resist heading over to take photos with it. We spent a while there to take pictures - this cohort truly loves their pictures!
Meeting our WLI mentor was an enriching experience. Before coming to the conference, we met virtually where we were able to learn more specifically about the work done by our mentors and upgrade our resumes. During the conference, we were able to meet our mentors a few more times in a variety of settings: such as bowling at Fulton Alley, mingling at their WLI graduation ceremony, and walking around the exhibit hall. At the exhibit hall with a few other fellow scholars, Jeremy’s mentor was able to guide us and explain some wastewater treatment process technology displayed in booths. It was awesome seeing the different technologies that are chosen for a specific treatment process and understanding why they were chosen! Potentially having made lifelong connections, we have integrated ourselves into the network of the water industry.
The first day felt long but was filled with excitement. We started very early to get to the airport, had our welcome orientation, and our first networking event. We had the chance to get to know our fellow scholars more and learn about their interests, especially during an ice breaker where we received a list of facts and had to find the person they matched. This first day was a great way to settle into this new environment with an incredible group of scholars who would become like family for the next four days.
The above pictures show Scholars at Fulton Alley where we were able to mingle amongst ourselves, recruiters, and professionals (look at how engaged and professional everyone looks in the first picture). It was an amazing opportunity to expand everyone’s network while also having fun striking pins or striking gutters for the inexperienced bowlers!
Day 2-WTTP Tour, WLI Mentor Graduation, Black in Water, Welcome Social
Writers: Adriana Mayr & Syan Smoot
On Sunday, we started bright and early! It was a day that was packed with fun and diverse activities, from attending the student design competition or touring the East Bank Wastewater Treatment tour, to attending the Water Leadership Institute Mentor Graduation. When the day is filled with great networking opportunities like today, you know we had to wear our InFLOW logo shirts. The student design competition started at 8 AM. We wanted to make sure we were there to support our classmates and learn about the various problem-solving methods that students have implemented nationally. After hearing some of the presentations, it was time to visit the East Bank Wastewater Treatment Plant, where we also met some of the InFLOW CareerTech Scholars to learn about what they do at Louisiana GreenCorps. The plant was managed by Veolia, so besides learning about how a wastewater treatment plant operates, we learned about the management side of things. But oh boy, did it stink!
After that, we walked around Sankofa Wetland and Green Infrastructure project “Vision 2 Reality” Park. Dr. Angela Chalk, Founder and Executive Director of Healthy Community Services, briefly presented the Vision to Reality Stormwater Management Park. The park serves the dominantly black and low-income 7th Ward of New Orleans and provides stormwater management under a highway overpass. We got to see some before and after photos of the site through its development over time – it’s gorgeous! Along with plenty of vegetation, there are walking paths through the park and it’s clear that there are more features to come. At 6 years old, the park has reached its capacity 3 times and has treated over 34,000 gallons of stormwater runoff.
The Black in Water Summit included a series of panelists that discussed their experience in the water sector. We think it is so important to gather and share experiences between people of the same racial identity. There are unique challenges that each race experiences. We got to hear from some very influential people such as Ifetayo Venner, Kishia Powell (who’s a Morgan State University alumna – go bears!), and Dr. Angela Chalk. During her keynote presentation, Dr. Chalk shared an engaging anecdote about the significance of pouring into black students and black young professionals so that they may obtain opportunities that otherwise many not have been available. Very few things are more inspiring than hearing from successful individuals in your field that look like you.
Back at the convention center, the Water Leadership Institute (WLI) Mentor Graduation was about to start. We celebrated our mentors and got the chance to talk to so many people in diverse fields! We shared some incredible conversations, laughs, and questions with each other and some of the professionals at the WLI. In the afternoon, we got a 2nd chance to bowl at the InFLOW Welcome Social where we met employees from companies that sponsored the InFLOW program. At WEFTEC, you know the networking never stops!
The above pictures show the in-construction stage of the Vision to Reality Stormwater Management Park.
The above pictures show pictures of InFLOW STEMpath and CareerTech scholars at the New Orleans Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Day 3-Opening General Session, Career Fair, Scavenger Hunt
Writers: Michelle Tai & Chathumi Thumbovila
October 7th finally arrived, marking the official start of the conference events. There was a mix of excitement and nerves as we prepared for a day filled with opportunities. Dressed in our best business attire, we made our way through the longest hallway and gathered for the opening general session, career fair, and the chance to explore the vast exhibition floor and capture pictures for our InFLOW scavenger hunt. The atmosphere was electric, with a talented local Zydeco band kicking off the opening general session and adding an authentic Louisiana flavor to the day. The session contained welcoming messages from the WEF key speakers and their stories of inspiration of how water impacted their lives were fascinating to hear about.
Next on the agenda, scholars from the Asia/Pasifika region attended the Asia/Pasifika luncheon while others attended the Hispanic/LatinX luncheon. At the Asia/Pasifika luncheon, we had the opportunity to listen to talks from different professionals who shared their unordinary water journey while also having a delicious lunch. Kelvin Davis, a member of the New Zealand Parliament, joined us after his introductory talk at the general session, offering a warm connection to New Zealand with flag pins and an invitation to learn more about his work.
The career fair was absolutely fulfilling as we got to talk to many representatives from different companies. The recruiters were passionate to share tips about resumes and future career paths. During the career fair, we gained many tips about resumes, insights about future career paths, and networked with professionals that exposed us to the diverse backgrounds of people within the industry that opened many doors.
The evening ended with a social reception organized by the Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC), where we had the chance to network, relax, and bond with peers and mentors. It was a rare opportunity to engage and interact with people within the industry in an entertainment setting. The WETEC exhibition expanded professional growth, cultural exchange, and involvement, setting a positive tone for the rest of the conference.
The above pictures show scholars awaiting the start of the WEF Opening General Session and completing the scavenger hunt at one of the InFLOW sponsor booths.
Day 4-Journeys Through Water and Closing Ceremony/Reflections
Writers: Sadikul Islam & Anahi Mendez Lozano
On our final day in the InFLOW program, we had the privilege of attending the Journeys Through Water panel, where we learned about the paths taken by influential leaders in the water industry. Andrew Sawyers from the EPA Office of Water, who also served as our panel moderator, along with Hugh Sinclair from Arcadis, Dorthy Carper from Xylem, Delroy Hector from Veolia, and Julian Sandino from Jacobs, shared their water stories and what inspired them to pursue careers in this field. Hearing from individuals with backgrounds like ours who have reached such impactful positions was deeply inspiring, filling us with a renewed sense of purpose and hope.
During the panel discussion, Andrew Sawyers shared advice that resonated with many of us: “Stay resilient and be unapologetically yourself, even in spaces where you may feel outnumbered”. The words about staying authentic and outspoken, no matter the circumstances, felt especially powerful because it encouraged us to see ourselves as future leaders in the water industry, empowering us to advocate for ourselves and take leadership roles with confidence. Another great piece of advice came from Delroy Hector: “Positivity brings productivity”. This serves as an important reminder for those of us beginning our careers in the water industry. No matter the challenges we face, staying positive and believing in the importance of the work we do can drive us forward and help us keep on track to make a meaningful difference.
The closing ceremony brought a powerful sense of accomplishment for all of us. We shared this special moment with the people we had met throughout the conference, who by now felt like longtime friends. Looking around at such a diverse group, all passionate about the same mission, was deeply inspiring. Walking up to receive our certificates, with the support and cheers of these incredible professionals, was indescribable—the love and encouragement we received through this program truly went beyond words. Holding our certificates felt symbolic, representing the knowledge, connections, memories, and inspiration gained through the InFLOW program. It marked the end of an incredible journey and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our careers.
As we headed to the airport, there was a mix of emotions—happiness, gratitude, optimism, and a bit of sadness to leave behind such an empowering experience. However, we felt overwhelmingly hopeful about the future, knowing that this program had provided us with the confidence and connections to pursue our goals in the water industry. Although the InFLOW program has officially ended, we continue to stay in touch with our fellow scholars, celebrating each other’s successes as we hear about their new roles within the water industry. We left New Orleans with a renewed sense of purpose, motivated to follow in the footsteps of the mentors we met, and hopeful that one day we’ll inspire others just as they have inspired us.
The above picture is the InFLOW STEMpath scholars at their Closing Ceremony Event.
The picture above features InFLOW scholars who identify as Asian/Pasifika, proudly displaying the national flags of the countries they are connected to.
