November 18, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amy Hewes
805-756-6402; ahewes@calpoly.edu
Cal Poly Grad Student Receives Prestigious Clinton Initiative Award
SAN LUIS OBISPO - Tricia Compas has dedicated more than 2,000 hours to her civil and environmental engineering thesis project, the Polytech Waterbag. That time and effort paid off in October, when Compas was awarded a $14,500 grant by the Clinton Global Initiative and the Wal-Mart Foundation.
With a team of students and an advisory panel of professors and business professionals, Compas created the Polytech Waterbag, a revolutionary water treatment system for disaster relief zones. It stands out from other methods, because it can treat murky floodwater in one container, transforming it to water that meets the World Health Organization's emergency standards.
Its unique cylindrical shape means it can be filled in as little as three inches of water. Relief organizations can get the bags to survivors quickly, and one bag comes with enough water treatments packets to last 10 days for a family of four.
Awards were given based on innovation and commitment to a global issue and the ability to create lasting social change. The award came with a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation that will allow Compas and her team to complete the project and distribute the Polytech Waterbag to relief organizations.
To accept her award, Compas attended a three-day meeting in New York City. Recipients heard talks and engaged in discussions with former President Bill Clinton, President-elect Barack Obama, Sen. John McCain, U2 singer Bono, cycling champion Lance Armstrong, former vice president Al Gore, Tom Brokaw of NBC News, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and economist Muhammad Yunus.
"I was honored to represent Cal Poly, and both humbled and inspired by all the leaders working on these issues day in and day out," Compas said.
Compas' involvement with Engineers Without Borders led her to the Polytech Waterbag. She worked with EWB for three years on a water treatment system for a village in Thailand. During this experience she was introduced to Tryg Lundquist, a professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He offered her the opportunity to take on the Polytech Waterbag as a master's thesis project.
Research and development will continue on the Polytech Waterbag, with the hopes of assisting 100,000 families during 2009 and 500,000 families in 2010.
Although the waterbag may have won an individual award, this project is a collaborative effort, Compas said.
"I would like to thank all of my advisors and team members for the continued efforts and support of this project," she said.
Compas is pictured at far left on the podium with President Clinton during the awards ceremony.
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