The National Ground Water Association’s Groundwater Week 2023 continues today in Las Vegas.
The event that features groundwater contractors, scientists, engineers, manufacturers, and suppliers from all over the world will see awards handed out, a keynote address given, and the opening of a record-setting exhibit hall today.
The Keynote Presentation and Awards of Excellence Ceremony kicks off the day. The keynote is being given by Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, a former University of Notre Dame football player whose life story was immortalized in the 1993 film, Rudy.
Ruettiger carved his name into the Notre Dame football team’s history books when he — a self-described “five-foot nothin’, a hundred and nothin’…without a speck of athletic ability” — sacked the quarterback on the only play in the only game of his college football career. Ruettiger is now an Emmy Award-winning motivational speaker, author, and producer.
His talk will be preceded by the handing out of awards to the top groundwater professionals in a variety of fields. Long-time NGWA member Marvin F. Glotfelty, RG, is the recipient of NGWA’s most prestigious award, the Ross L. Oliver Award, given for outstanding contributions to the groundwater industry. Glotfelty is a principal hydrogeologist and cofounder of Clear Creek Associates, a Geo-Logic Company in Phoenix, Arizona.
Jiu Jimmy Jiao, Ph.D., of the University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, China, is being recognized with the M. King Hubbert Award, which is presented to a person who has made a major science or engineering contribution to the groundwater industry through research, technical papers, teaching, and practical applications. Ten other awards will be given out as well.
The opening of the exhibit hall will be a highlight for many of the thousands of attendees. There are 302 exhibitors on a convention-record 81,550 square feet of sold exhibit space.
The NGWA booth features artifacts and photos from its 75 years of serving groundwater professionals. It is also hosting an event titled “Catch Up with Kathy Butcher.” Butcher, who retired in 2022 after working at NGWA for 49 years as director of education, is back at Groundwater Week celebrating the Association’s 75th anniversary and being recognized with the NGWA Honorary Member Award.