New graduates return to work at Water Authority
(CNS Local Life): Two scholarship recipients have completed their education and returned home to work at the Water Authority-Cayman (WAC), with a third young person supported in earning a master’s degree while employed at the company. Chynna Retumban and Kristina Powell have taken up jobs at the departments of water resource and quality control, and information systems departments, respectively, while Kodie Scott has been recently promoted to senior development control technologist.
Retumban, who was the authority’s 2014/2015 scholarship recipient, earned a bachelor of science in chemistry for drug siscovery from the University of Bradford in the UK, stated a WAC press release. The authority continued supporting her pursuit of a master of science in green and sustainable chemistry from the University of Nottingham. She gained honours for both degrees.
During the summers Retumban participated in WAC’s internship programme, and won the 2013 and 2014 Rotary Science Fair. She joined the authority as a full-time employee in March this year as a laboratory technician II with the water resource and quality control department.
“The Water Authority’s support throughout my studies has been very appreciated,” Retumban said in the release. “I’m ready to take all that I have learned and use it to be an asset to the authority and the wider community. I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity.”
Powell shared that sentiment, saying, “There are a lot of students who don’t have the privilege of getting a scholarship. I’m grateful to the authority for my scholarship because it allowed me to really focus on my studies.”
Powell, who was WAC’s 2016/2017 scholarship recipient, earned a bachelor of science in management information systems from the University of Tampa. During her time at university Powell was inducted into three academic honour societies: Beta Gamma Signma (business), Alpha Iota Mu (IT) and Phi Kappa Phi (all disciplines).
She also participated in the authority’s summer internship programme during her school breaks. Powell joined Water Authority-Cayman as a full-time employee in January this year as an applications and network support specialist (designate) with the information systems department and is also pursuing a master’s degree in cybersecurity.
In addition to welcoming back its two scholarship recipients, the authority said it is also celebrating the achievements of senior development control technologist Kodie Scott, who was promoted to his current position at the beginning of 2019 and completed his master of science in public health (global health) in December last year, supported by an educational sponsorship from WAC.
“I’m thankful to the authority for its support. Being able to move forward with my education has helped me to take on challenges of my new role, and will have a positive impact on the work of the authority,” said Scott.
WAC Director Dr Gelia Frederick van-Genderen said the authority was proud of the three Caymanians. “Investing in the future of our young people is incredibly important to the authority,” she said. “We are pleased to see our young Caymanians progress in their education, particularly in the STEM fields, and look forward to seeing Chynna, Kristina and Kodie grow with the authority.”
Every year the authority offers a scholarship of up to $30,000 to a suitably qualified Caymanian student. The deadline for 2019 applications is Friday, 31 May.
For more information on the scholarship go to the Water Authority-Cayman website
Category: Education, Scholarships
