Future Leaders Spotlight: Florida Sunshine Chapter Part 2

The SWANA/Hickman Future Leaders program was created to answer the question, “Where will future leaders of the solid waste and materials management industry come from?” These SWANA chapters have the answer! Let’s take a look at how they created dialogue and partnerships with the universities, community colleges, and institutes in their areas. 

Chapter Contributors: Wei Liu - CDM Smith, Nathan Mayer - Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, William Gendusa – CDM Smith, and Keith Howard – HDR, Inc.

Part II

Q: How many universities are you currently working with?

A: We are currently working with several Florida Universities. Including: University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University and the University of Miami.

Q: How did you go about engaging the students at these universities?

A: Student engagement at the universities is grassroot. Initial engagement begins at the collegiate level with university professors’ affiliation with the Solid Waste Association of North America, which provides legitimacy of the organization and connection to SWANA. From there, the students who become active in SWANA continue to do so in their professional lives, often connecting back to their respective universities.

SWANA members also play a role. Each student, who eventually becomes a full SWANA member, typically has someone in their professional network who endorsed SWANA involvement. This personal endorsement results in a life-long network fully dedicated to the furtherment of solid waste as a science, as a practice and as a profession.

The student design competition has long been an honored activity to engage and involve students in a professional society. Created in the sphere of required capstone design coursework, the student design competition furthers the student’s understanding of the subject matter and connects the students to future employers. We fundraise throughout the year, especially at our two annual conferences, to provide financial assistance for students traveling to WASTECON^® to compete in the competition. We also provide scholarships to students through our local chapter. Many of our SWANA Florida Sunshine Chapter members also serve as mentors and judges, further connecting students to solid waste professionals across the state. 

Finally, the Florida Sunshine Chapter offers several incentives for students to become involved. Our largest collaboration is a joint summer conference held with the Florida SWANA Sunshine Chapter and the Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management. Professors and their students are given the opportunity to provide our members with research updates over an entire afternoon at the conference.  We offer highly discounted rates for students to attend the conferences and registration as a SWANA member is free. We encourage students to get involved with our young professional events and are always proactively working to involve students and young professionals.

Join us next time as we talk with the Florida SWANA Chapter about the positive impact of working with academia.

For more information on the SWANA/Hickman Future Leaders Program, contact struxon@swana.org.