MECA SCHOLARSHIP
The MECA Scholarship
Established in 2007, the MECA Scholarship supports Minnesota students pursuing engineering or science degrees with an emphasis on erosion and sediment control or stormwater management. The scholarship amount has increased over time, and MECA now awards $2,500 to an individual preparing for a career that protects our soils and water.
Scholarship application
To apply, please download the application form and send it to the MECA office by November 1, 2026.
MECA Scholarship Recipients
2026
Mary Bair, University of Wisconsin-Madison | Biological Systems Engineering
Sarah Daley, St. Olaf College | Environmental Studies
Ty Nawrocki, South Dakota State University | Civil Engineering
2025
Eryn Bloom, St. Cloud State University | Hydrology and Earth Sciences
Olivia May, University of Minnesota Twin Cities | Civil Engineering and GIS
2024
Kendra Sommerfeld, Colorado State University | Natural Resource Management and Conservation Communications
2023
Limeimei Xu, University of MN-Twin Cities | Water Resources
2022
Cindy Wuddah, Minnesota State University, Mankato | Construction Management
2021
Leanna Markovics, University of MN-Twin Cities in the College of Science and Engineering | Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
2020
Jaquelin Shimota, University of MN-Twin Cities in the College of Science and Engineering | Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
2019
Jack Distel, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Water Resource Science
2018
Vinicus Taguchi, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | CivilEngineering-Water Resources
Laura Kivisto, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Environmental
2017
Austin Cavallin, University of Minnesota, Duluth | Geology
2016
Libby Mills, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Animal Science-Dairy Products
2015
Cody Ritt, North Dakota State University (NDSU) | Civil & Environmental Engineering
2014
Jennifer Soltys, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Ecological Engineering
2013
Emma Volbrecht,
2012
Taylor Hoffman, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
2011
Scott Mitchell, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities |Environmental Science Policy and Management
2010
Heather Herrig, University of Minnesota, Crookston | Natural Resource Management & Communications
2009
Catherine Bach, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Environmental Sciences | Policy & Management
2008
Micah Meyer, University of Minnesota, Crookston | Natural Resources
In Memory of Charlie
By Rick Kruger and Dan Larsen
Remember the date. July 12, 2006. Maybe not a 9/11 or a December 7, but a significant date within our industry. For 7/12 is the date we lost a friend, Charlie Parnell, founder of Partek Supply. Our subset of population in the Upper Midwest has several notable leaders-Charlie was one of them.
Although, in Charlie’s case, “notable” would be an understatement. His laugh and smile were infectious and engaging. The combination of the two was powerful and very effective on all he communicated with. Contractors and engineers a-like had no defense for this one-two punch. To me, Charlie was a “what if” guy. While most of us accept the norm as being pretty darn good, Charlie would ask “What if?” “What does the customer want that is different, yet better?” “What can I do over here that will save him time and money over there?” There was no scenario Charlie would not give his best effort to find a more logical solution, and he often did.
He thought, he challenged, he succeeded. Charlie knew what the true meaning of “Thinking outside the Box” was.
But, the bacterial infection was too much, even for a man as strong as Charlie. Our industry has lost a great one, but his legacy will live on.
Remember the date. Remember Charlie.