About the Scholarship
Edmund G. “Ed” Archuleta was the manager of the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board from 1989 until his retirement in 2013. In 2016, the Board of Directors of the Texas Desalination Association initiated a scholarship fund in his name for students at institutions of higher learning who are engaged in water resource planning and/or research involving one of the various aspects of brackish groundwater, produced water, or seawater desalination.
Congratulations 2025 Scholarship Recipients
Lokendra Acharya, Doctoral Student, Texas State University | First Place
Raquel B Torres, Doctoral Student, Texas Tech University | Runner Up
Rutesh L Gaikwad, Doctoral Student, University of Houston | 2nd Runner Up
Wei-Ming Kung, Doctoral Student, Rice University | 3rd Runner Up
Pictured left to right: Wei-Ming Kung, Lokendra Acharya, Raquel B Torres, Rutesh L Giakwad
Thank You 2025 Ed Archuleta Desalter Scholarship Sponsor!
Envision Water matched $2,000 of the 2025 Silent Auction proceeds!
About Ed Archuleta
Edmund G. “Ed” Archuleta was manager of the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board from January 1989 until his retirement in January 2013. He was responsible for all aspects of water, wastewater, reclaimed water service, and storm water to the greater El Paso metropolitan area. He reported to and implemented strategic policies set by the seven-member Public Service Board. Ed was then named the Transition and Special Projects Manager for the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board from January through July 2013. Ed joined University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) as Director of Water Initiatives on September 1, 2013.
Previous Scholarship Recipients
- 2023 – Mauricio Tarazona, New Mexico State University 1st Place
Helani Perera & Terek Ahasan, New Mexico State University 2nd Place
Subanky Suvendran, New Mexico State University 3rd Place - 2022 – Tayia Oddonetto, The University of Texas at El Paso
- 2021 – Kaleisha Miller, Texas A&M University | Runner Up: Ze He, Rice University
- 2020 – Marcello Di Martino, Texas A&M University
- 2019 – Emily Pease, University of Texas at Austin
- 2018 – Amit Jain, Rice University
- 2017 – Savanna Smith, Undergraduate, University of Texas at Austin
- 2016 – Malynda Cappelle, PhD, University of Texas at El Paso
Interested in donating to the Fund?
Scholarship Criteria
Students are eligible to receive this Award one time only, past recipients need not apply. Students must be a full-time student enrolled in a four-year, accredited, degree-granting college or university, and submit a Texas Desal 2026 Student Poster Presenter Bio & Abstract Form to present during the Texas Desal 2026 Annual Conference, Tuesday, September 22 – Wednesday, September 23, in Bee Cave, TX.
Submit an abstract for Poster Presentation on any topic of your choice related to desalination in Texas, or you may use one of the suggested topics listed below.
Key Dates:
- Thursday, July 23, 2026 – Deadline to submit Texas Desal 2026 Student Poster Presenter Bio & Abstract Form.
- Thursday, August 20, 2026 – Deadline to submit a pdf copy of the Poster. Submit via email to operations@texasdesal.com.
Poster presentations will be judged on site and the student(s)’ poster(s) scored highest will be awarded the 2026 Ed Archuleta Desalter Scholarship, up to $1,500.
Questions? Email operations@texasdesal.com.