Laval Underground Surveys awarded Fresno
State student Teagan Zoldoske the 2012 $1,000 Ben Everson Scholarship on July
24.
Zoldoske, 19, is a sophomore at California
State University, Fresno, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and
minors in chemistry and math. She plans to work with contaminated ground water
to find ways to make it healthier for drinking as well as useful in
agriculture.
“Right now, there is lots of contamination of
ground water with nitrates,” Zoldoske says.
“Knowing about the problems that people had
made me want to figure out ways to help, since water is our most valuable
resource,” she says.
Zoldoske is a biological research aid at the
U.S. Department of Agriculture Water Management Research Division. She analyzes
elements found in plant soil and the vitamin content of plants and fruits.
Laval Underground Surveys awards the
scholarship annually to a student pursuing a college degree in a water-related
field. The Ben Everson scholarship has awarded $30,000 to college-bound
scholars seeking to make a difference in ground water since the program was
established 15 years ago.
The scholarship was created in honor of Ben
Everson, a long-time employee who personified the values of hard work,
dedication and a belief in the promise of America’s youth. For more details,
visitwww.beneversonscholarship.com.