Hilton Head PSD Water Quality Supervisor Sarah Hickman recently represented the United States and earned top event and medalist honors in the World Water Skills Competition at IFAT Munich (GER), the world’s leading trade fair for environmental technologies. Hickman and teammate Lindie Aragon, of Westminster, CO, represented the United States on behalf of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and were sponsored by Empowering Pumps & Equipment. In the competition, 27 teams showcased their professional skills in six different categories, including Wastewater Process Control, Laboratory Analysis, Pump Maintenance and Work Safety/Confined Space Entry. Hickman and Aragon finished 1st in the Process Control event and received the silver medal for overall performance in the Wastewater Professionals category.
“It was an amazing experience to compete against, interact with, and learn from so many excellent environmental professionals from around the world,” said Hickman. “I’m glad I could represent the U.S.A. and Hilton Head PSD while I was there! We thank WEF, our sponsor, and our colleagues for supporting our team.”
Hickman earlier this spring earned the Water Environment Association of South Carolina’s Crystal Crucible Award, which recognizes significant contributions among those working in water and wastewater analysis. Hickman supervises the PSD’s Water Quality Laboratory. She has volunteered for many years to compete in, organize, and judge the WEASC’s Operations Challenge competitions, where wastewater professionals compete as teams in various industry-related categories, including pipe repair, treatment process controls, confined space rescue, laboratory, and pump maintenance.
