American Water Announces Recipients of 2025 James V. LaFrankie Scholarship Awards

Business Wire

08-07-2025

BUSINESS WIRE)-- American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., today announced recipients of the annual James V. LaFrankie Scholarship Awards. The awards were distributed nationwide to 10 college-bound students of full-time American Water employees who demonstrate an interest in water industry-related occupational fields.
Lori Sutton, SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, American Water shares, 'Investing in our employees is a cornerstone of our values, and we are proud to help foster the next generation of leaders and innovators."
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'At American Water, we are honored to support the academic growth and future aspirations of our employees' families through the James V. LaFrankie Scholarship Awards,' said Lori Sutton, SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, American Water. 'Investing in our employees is a cornerstone of our values, and we are proud to help foster the next generation of leaders and innovators.'
Out of 93 submitted applications, an independent, third-party organization selected 10 high school seniors based on their outstanding records, academic honors, participation in extracurricular activities and teacher recommendations.
The $1,000 scholarship is awarded for one year and may be renewed for up to three years based on the student's academic progress.
Below are the scholarship award recipients and American Water employees:
Cy Carlson – Jody Carlson, Vice President, Operations, Missouri American Water
Vivian Chen – Hao Chen, Senior Project Engineer, Virginia American Water
Addison Dillon – Michael Dillon Jr., Shift Mechanic, New Jersey American Water
Jaclyn Fealy – Nicole Fealy, Senior Operational Systems Analyst, American Water
Abigail Johnes – Dennis Johnes, DFW Inspector, Missouri American Water
Francesco LoGrippo – Mark LoGrippo, Senior Manager, Business Development, New Jersey American Water
Marin Purcell – Michael Purcell, Senior Project Manager, American Water
Allison Shaw – Jana Shaw, Operations Specialist, New Jersey American Water
Laney Williams – Christopher Williams, Senior Foreperson, Virginia American Water
Thomas Yuan – Peter Yuan, Principal Financial Analyst, American Water
'On behalf of the LaFrankie family, congratulations to the 2025 James V. LaFrankie Scholarship award recipients,' said Jane LaFrankie. For 44 years our father worked his way up the ranks within American Water. He was so proud of his American Water family, as were we. Our father was a big believer in giving back to the community and these awards are a way of giving back to aspiring young students of American Water employees. My brothers and sister and I look forward every year to learn more about the student honorees and wish them all much success in their studies—and perhaps becoming a future American Water employee!'
The American Water Board of Directors established the scholarship program in 1991 in honor of former American Water president, James V. LaFrankie, who demonstrated the value he placed on college education by earning a degree at Georgetown University night school while working days at the Alexandria Virginia Water Company, now known as Virginia American Water. After that, LaFrankie excelled, climbing the ladder to increasingly responsible positions over his 44-year career with American Water, retiring as the company's president in 1991.
About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water's 6,700 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.