IWRA Awards

The Charles Harold Bechert Award

The Charles Harold Bechert Award was first established in 1981 for presentation to a member of the water resources community who has contributed significantly to water resources activities in Indiana.

Charles Harold Beckert has been recognized as a major pioneer in Indiana's water resources management programs. Following graduation with honors from Purdue University in 1929, Mr. Bechert became Indiana's first sanitary engineer in the Department of Conservation. During his 36 year career with the Department, Mr. Bechert serves as Assistant Chief of the Division of Water, Department of Natural Resources, and served in that capacity until 1970.

During his distinguished career, Mr. Bechert was an officer and a member of various water related organizations. Mr. Bechert served as President of both the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Indiana Division of the American Water Works Association. Mr. Bechert was also a member in several other organizations, including the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers, Scientech Club, Indiana Academy of Sciences, and the honorary fraternity of Chi Epsilon.

Mr. Bechert's professional abilities were recognized in 1963 by Governor Matthew Welch when appointed Sagamore of the Wabash, in 1955 when presented the George Fuller Award by the American Water Works Association, and by listing in "Who's Who in the Midwest (1967-68)".

Nominations for the Charles Harold Bechert Award may be made by contacting the IWRA President.

Past recipients of the Charles Harold Bechert Award are:

Oral Hert, 1981
Daniel Wiersma, 1982
William J. Andrews, 1984
William J. Steen, 1986
Dennis K. Stewart, 1990
Jacques W. Delleur, 1992
Jim Barnett, 1996
John Simpson, 1998
Thomas Bruns, 2002
Mark Reshkin, 2004
Charles Crawford, 2006
Judith Beaty, 2007

Members Emeriti

The IWRA recognizes members who have made contributions to the organization for a long time by awarding status of Member Emeritus. Registrations fees for all future IWRA meetings are waived for members emeriti. Current members emeriti and year of designation are:

Armstrong	Bob "Bugs"
Barnett	James
Bell	John
Delleur	Jacques
Gammon	James
Krothe	Noel
Powell	Richard
Reshkin	Mark
Simpson	John
Steen	William

The Wilber-Zogorski Leadership Award

The Indiana Water Resources Association has established a Leadership Award to acknowledge the significant contributions to the organization made by its Presidents. The Leadership Award was named in honor of William G. Wilber and John S. Zogorski, the founding members of IWRA. A list of past and current presidents of the IWRA can be found here .

The Outstanding Student Presentation Award

The IWRA also encourages students to present the results of their research or work in the area of water resources. Awards for Outstanding Student Presentations are given at many symposia. In addition to a cash award, all costs of attending the symposium are covered.

Past Outstanding Student Presentations award winners include:

Frederick Otto II, University of Notre Dame, 1984
Paula Hunt, Purdue University, 1988
Stephen Kraemer, Indiana University, 1988
Gail Harkey, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, 1992
Vic Kelson, Indiana University, 1994
Lesley Oliver, Purdue University, 1996
Kenneth Luther, Indiana University, 1996
Alyson Faulkenburg, Purdue University, 2000

Since 2000, all students making presentations have had their travel expenses paid.