EDWARDSVILLE – On Friday, July 24, 2026, 12 students graduated from the Environmental Resource Training Center in the School of Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The program involves comprehensive education that prepares them for certifications as Illinois and Missouri public water and wastewater treatment system operators.
Dean Emeritus Cem Karacal, PhD, who retired at the end of June, delivered remarks to the graduates preparing to enter the public workforce. Seventeen scholarships were awarded on behalf of partnerships with local municipal and state water associations.
Congratulations to the graduates of the Class of 2026 Water Quality Control Program:
- Trever Brown
- Brianna Cicero
- Ryder Copeland
- Sadie Decker
- Tiffany Highley
- Eaton Kurtz
- Zachary McAllister
- Julian Sanchez
- Quintin Sims
- Justin Smith
- Alex Staff
- Evan Uhl
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high-quality education that powerfully transforms the lives of all individuals who seek something greater. A premier metropolitan university, SIUE is creating social and economic mobility for individuals while also powering the workforce of the future. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Home to a diverse student body, SIUE is situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottomland and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis.?
