Awards & Scholarships
Congratulations to our 2025 Scholarship and Award Winners!
Category I Scholarship Winners:
Anna Bacehowski
Jack Foster
Alex Miller
Vandon Roosa
Innovative Project Award: Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency – Battery Recycling Program
Scholarship Opportunities
Committee Chair: John Roosa
RCon Scholarship Opportunities
As a benefit for being a member of ISOSWO and to foster the next generation of solid waste managers, ISOSWO is offering one full scholarship (one registration and travel to the event) to a member and one to a Young Professional. The recipients will be responsible for any additional expenses.
Student Scholarship Opportunities
In order to prepare the next generation for the environmentally and economically sound practice of solid waste, SWANA has developed several scholarship opportunities for students studying in fields related to solid waste management. This committee oversees this program. All scholarship winners will be invited to the annual Iowa Recycling and Solid Waste Management Conference and Trade Show. Iowa award winners will be submitted to SWANA for consideration of the national scholarship award.
Schedule for Selection
May 15: Deadline for submission of application materials to Chapter Scholarship Committee
June 2: Deadline for submission of Chapter candidates for review by International Scholarship Committee
July: International Scholarship Committee meets to select winners
August 1–15: Announcement of International Scholarship winners
Grant H. Flint International Scholarship Program
Participation in the Grant H. Flint International Scholarship Program begins at the Chapter level. Completed applications must be received by respective chapters no later than May 15 of the current calendar year. The Chapter Scholarship Committees are responsible for reviewing and selecting local winners, and forwarding one representative for each scholarship category to the International Scholarship Committee for review.
Scholarship Amount
At the state level, ISOSWO will award $1,000 for Category I and $1,500 for Category II. The International Scholarship Committee will determine individual amounts of the total $20,000 to be awarded.
Award Categories:
Category I: Graduating high school seniors or graduate equivalent certified candidates who have been accepted for enrollment in a junior college, a four-year college, or a university (any field of study). To be eligible, candidates must be the children or grandchildren of a SWANA Member (sponsor) in good standing as of May 15th of the current calendar year.
Category II: Currently enrolled full-time college or university students who are entering their junior or senior undergraduate year and pursuing a degree in environmental science, engineering, or other suitable major related to the field of solid waste management. To be eligible, candidates must be the children or grandchildren of a SWANA Member (sponsor) in good standing as of May 15th of the current calendar year or SWANA Student Members in good standing.
Deadline
Please pay attention to the application guidelines in the SWANA application as these will be followed. For additional information see the SWANA Scholarship website.
Scholarship applications can be mailed or emailed to the ISOSWO Scholarship Committee Chair by May 15th of each calendar year.
jroosa@boonecounty.iowa.gov
Boone County Landfill
c/o John Roosa
1268 - 224th Lane
Boone, Iowa 50036
ISOSWO Awards
Do you have, or know of, a facility, project, program, associate, or employee that you feel deserves recognition? Have you been wondering how to foster that recognition? ISOSWO has an awards program to help you do just that, recognizing premier facilities, projects, programs, and individuals in the Iowa solid waste management industry.
Nomination
The award nomination form is available HERE. Nominations are due Tuesday June 23, 2026. Winners will be notified in July and will be presented with their awards at the IRA/ISOSWO Fall Conference Award Ceremony in October.
Video Recipient
Award recipients will also have an opportunity to be selected for a professional video produced highlighting the award-winning facility, project, or individual. The Awards Committee will consider all selected award applicants and recommend to the ISOSWO Board of Directors one that they believe stands above the rest and that can be effectively communicated through a video. The Awards Committee will announce the video production winner during the ISOSWO/IRA Fall Conference award ceremony. The Awards Committee will work with the selected award recipient to produce the video to be shown at the Spring ISOSWO Conference.
Questions
Please email John Roosa (jroosa@boonecounty.iowa.gov).
Past Winners
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Outstanding Professional Achievement Award - Service to Iowa Solid Waste Management Industry: Joe Farris - Landfill Manager of Mahaska County Solid Waste
Outstanding Facility/Program Award - Innovative Project Award: Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency/Black Hills Renewables/Landfill Group - State-of-the-art gas processing facility for the beneficial use of landfill gas
Outstanding Facility/Program Award: City of Council Bluffs - Curbside Recycling and Solid Waste Collections Modernization Program
Innovative Project Award: Black Hawk County Solid Waste Management Commission –Black Hawk County Landfill Renewable Natural Gas Project
2024 Video Award: Joe Farris, the Mahaska County Solid Waste Landfill manager
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Outstanding Facility/Program: Metro Waste Authority - Materials Recovery Facility
Innovative Project Award: Muscatine Organics - Recycling Center
Outstanding Professional Achievement: Kathy Morris - Service to Industry
Outstanding Waste Diversion Program: City of Ames Resource Recovery System - Rummage RAMPage (Video)
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Outstanding Facility/Program: Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency - Outstanding Disaster Response
Innovative Project Award: South Dallas County Sanitary Landfill - Soil and Waste Exhumation, soil reclamation, air space reclamation and Subtitle D Compliant cell development of the SW area
Outstanding Professional Achievement (Service To Industry): Doug Hughes (Video) - Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency
Outstanding Professional Achievement (Landfill Operator): Lynn Wuebker - Carroll County Solid Waste Management Commission
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Professional Achievement Award - Service to Iowa Solid Waste Management Industry: Wade Hamm (Video) - Great River Regional Waste Authority Landfill
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Outstanding Professional Achievement Award - Service to Iowa Solid Waste Management Industry: Cindy Turkle (Video) - Turkle-Clark Environmental Consulting LLC
Outstanding Facility/Program Award - Leachate Management Facility/Program: Force main. A leachate management alternative to hauling - Landfill of North Iowa
Innovative Project Award —Recycling Project: Community Recycling Education Videos - Boone County Landfill & Recycling
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Outstanding Professional Achievement Award - Facility Operator: Dan Henkenius - Carroll County Solid Waste Management Commission
Outstanding Facility/Program Award - Solid Waste Management Education Program: “Rocky Recycler” Educational Program - Great River Regional Waste Authority
Innovative Project Award: Watch Video: Overlook & Trails Landfill Improvement Project - Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency
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Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Mr. Don Vogt, Retired City of Dubuque Public Works Director (Video) - Service to Iowa Solid Waste Management Industry
Outstanding Facility/Program Award – Outstanding Material Drop-Off Program: City of Newton Sanitary Landfill (Video) - Recycling Area Improvements
Outstanding Facility/Program Award– Outstanding Transfer Station: Metro Waste Authority (Video) - Metro Northwest Transfer Station
Outstanding Facility/Program Award – Intergovernmental Cooperation: Scott County Illegal Dumping Task Force (Video)
Outstanding Facility/Program Award – Landfill Improvement Project: Great River Regional Waste Authority (Video) - MSW Shredder Operations
Innovative Project Award – Innovative Recycling Project: Waste Commission of Scott County (Video) - Single Stream Recycling Facility
ISOSWO Video Award: Scott County Illegal Dumping Task Force (Video)
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Outstanding Program Award for Outstanding Landfill Improvement Project: Metro Waste Authority - Flat-Fill Method
Outstanding Facility/Program Award for Outstanding Storm Water Management Project: Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency (Video) - Comprehensive Storm Water Management Project
Outstanding Facility/Program Award for Innovative Recycling Project: Waste Commission of Scott County - Reuse Program at the Electronic Demanufacturing Facility
ISOSWO Video Award: Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency (Video) - Comprehensive Storm Water Management Project
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Outstanding Facility/Program Award - Outstanding Material Recovery Building: Cedar Rapid/Linn County Solid Waste Agency - Resource Recovery Building
Outstanding Facility/Program Award - Outstanding Litter/Beautification Program: City of Cedar Rapids - 1 Bag Challenge
Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Muriel McDermott - Service to Iowa Solid Waste Management Industry
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Outstanding Facility/Program Award - Outstanding Intergovernmental Cooperation: Western Iowa Initiative - Shingles Recycling Program
Outstanding Facility/Program Award - Outstanding Litter/Beautification Program: Waste Commission of Scott County - Xstream Cleanup
Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Keith Krambeck - Service to Iowa Solid Waste Management Industry
Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Chuck Goddard - Service to Iowa Solid Waste Management Industry
Innovative Project Award-Innovative Recycling Project: Muscatine Recycling Center - Recycle the Dress
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Outstanding Material Recovery Program: Heritage Trust - Preservation Station
Outstanding Material Drop-off Program: Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency - Electronics Recycling Program
Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Mary Wittry - Service to Iowa Solid Waste Management Industry
Innovative Waste Management Project: City of Cedar Rapids - Water Pollution Control Facility
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Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Tom Hadden - Professional Achievement Award
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Innovative Waste Management/Recycling Award: Gronen Restoration - Roshek Redevelopment
Outstanding Material Recovery Facility: West Central Iowa Solid Waste Management Association - Material Recovery Facility
Outstanding Solid Waste Management Education Program: Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency & Cedar Rapids Community School District - Landfill Tours/Education Stations
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Outstanding Disaster Response Program: Cedar Rapids/Linn County Solid Waste Agency - 2008 Flood Response Program
Outstanding Facility/Program Award: Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency - Green Vision Education Program
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Outstanding Environmental Protection Facility Award: Landfill of North Iowa - Household Hazardous Material Regional Collection Center
Outstanding Facility/Program Award: Boone County Landfill - GREEN PAGES
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Recognition and Appreciation of Service: Floyde Pelkey - Recognition and Appreciation of Service
Innovative Recycling Project Award: Highways 151 and 61 Development LLC
Outstanding Litter/Beautification Award: Keep Boone County Beautiful
Innovative Waste Management Project Award: University of Iowa - Food Waste Composting - Pilot Program
Outstanding Environmental Protection Facility Award: Waste Commission of Scott County - Electronic Demanufacturing Facility
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Recognition and Appreciation of Service: Scott Smith
Recognition and Appreciation of Service: Leslie Goldsmith
Recognition and Appreciation of Service: Lavene Payne
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Outstanding Solid Waste Management Education Program: Iowa Valley Continuing Education & Solid Waste Management Commission of Marshall County - Bi-Lingual Education Program
Outstanding Environmental Protection Facility Award: Solid Waste Management Commission of Marshall County
Innovative Waste Management Program Award: Metro Waste Authority & EMC Insurance Company - Rehab the Lab
Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Mary Burton - Professional Achievement Award
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Outstanding Solid Waste Management Education Program: East Central Iowa Council of Governments
Outstanding Program Award: Benton County Solid Waste Disposal Commission
Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Julie Smith - Professional Achievement Award
Recognition and Appreciation of Service: Tracy Lemar
Recognition and Appreciation of Service: Mary Wittry
Recognition and Appreciation of Service: Tom Hadden
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Innovative Waste Management Project Award: Cass County Balefill
Innovative Waste Management Project Award: Bluestem Bioreactor Project
Outstanding Solid Waste Management Education Program: Metro Waste Authority
Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Dave Hogan
Recognition and Appreciation of Service: Tom Clark
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Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Robert Mulqueen
Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: James Brick
Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Francis "Doc" Hallada
Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Sara Bixby
Outstanding Professional Achievement Award: Joe Robertson
Recognition and Appreciation of Service: Joe Robertson