Orbit Irrigation Awards $5,000 Scholarship

Encinitas, CA – In an awards ceremony at San Dieguito High School Academy today, Orbit Irrigation Products, Inc., awarded its $5,000 scholarship to senior, Sameer Iyengar. Also announced today were the runners-up: Leigh Steuernagel from Chula Vista, Calif., and Nicole Hansen from South Jordan, Utah.

Iyengar's composition prevailed over hundreds of entrants in Orbit's essay contest, "Outdoor Watering Conservation – The Next Step." The annual contest was held for the first time this spring for 11th- and 12th-grade high school students in California and Utah.  The contest was the brainchild of Orbit CEO, K.C. Ericksen: "Combine the arid West with the recent drought and we thought it timely to hold an essay contest to focus our young people on how to conserve water for the next generation."

"While we were pleased with all the essays, Sameer's was exceptional!" Ericksen observed. "His innovative ideas for the next steps in water conservation could be a planning guide for all of us."

Here is an excerpt from Sameer's essay:
Outdoor water conservation must begin with sprinkler systems. Used to water everything from backyards and lawns to greenhouses and fields, sprinkler systems represent the largest portion of our outdoor water use. Currently, methods exist to determine the moisture of the soil. If these methods are incorporated into sensors, which are wired into sprinkler systems, then only the dehydrated areas will receive water. Instead of running on mindless timers, sprinklers would be deactivated by the sensors when the soil has reached an optimal moisture level. This is a practical first step towards water conservation and could be easily implemented by offering tax incentives to those who participate.

The scholarship can be used at any college or university in the nation. Iyengar plans to attend the University of California at Berkeley this fall and major in engineering.  Meanwhile, Steuernagel and Hansen will each receive Orbit Irrigation products valued at $500.

Orbit is a well-known manufacturer and supplier of irrigation products for residential and commercial markets.