Talk about a surprise! Water Environmental Technologies Instructor Gregg Kropp won this year’s Minnesota Wastewater Operators’ Association (MWOA) Outstanding Operator of the Year for 2024 in July and just found out about it last week.
“I didn’t know I’d won until about a week ago… the award showed up yesterday,” he said. An industry trade magazine had asked him to send them a photo of him with the award and he was in the dark as to what he they were talking about; the award then came in the mail and his son snapped a photo to send their way.
The MWOA is an organization that covers all areas of Minnesota and includes wastewater operators, lab technicians, regulatory agencies, collection system specialists, maintenance personnel, engineers, and marketing consultants. The goals of the MWOA are to inform and encourage people to take an active role in water quality issues and support members’ efforts in improving water quality.
Kropp also received a $3,500 scholarship from the Minnesota section of the American Waterworks Association that helped to pay for his master’s degree in technology education at St. Cloud State. He finished his MS this summer.
Congratulations, Gregg!