As students across the Solid Waste District head back to the classroom this month, two central Ohio graduates have been named the first recipients of SWACO鈥檚 Scholarship Program and will receive financial assistance towards their pursuit of higher education degrees in majors applicable to the solid waste management industry.
For over 25 years, SWACO has provided environmental education to students of all ages, from kindergarten through college, to highlight the importance of landfill engineering, resource conservation, and sustainability. In 2025, SWACO expanded upon those efforts with the launch of a scholarship program which provides a $2,500 award annually (not to exceed $10,000 over four years) to eligible students selected for the program.
Congratulations to the 2025 recipients:
- Garrett Peterson, a graduate of Dublin Coffman High School (May 2025), will attend Chatham University in Pittsburgh (Fall 2025) to study Business and Environmental Science.
- Sophia Barnes, a graduate of New Albany High School (May 2025), will attend Elon University in North Carolina (Fall 2025) to study Public Policy and Environmental Studies.
鈥淲e were incredibly impressed by the caliber of all the applicants and are excited to support Sophia and Garrett as they begin their journeys toward creating a more sustainable future,鈥� said SWACO Executive Director Joe Lombardi. 听SWACO will accept applications for the next round of scholarships in early 2026.