Scholarships

The Massachusetts Environmental Health Association (MEHA) is proud to honor the legacy of Alan Perry, an exceptional environmental health and public health practitioner whose career embodied dedication, mentorship, and service to communities across Massachusetts. Alan was known not only for his technical expertise, but for his generosity, leadership, and commitment to developing the next generation of environmental health professionals.

In his memory, MEHA established the Alan Perry Scholarship, awarded annually to a new or emerging professional in the environmental health field. The scholarship recipient will receive free registration to MEHA’s premier Title V Septic Conference, the state’s leading event for septic system education, innovation, and regulatory updates.

This conference offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn from industry experts, connect with seasoned local public health leaders, engage with vendors and engineers, and deepen understanding of Title V and onsite wastewater systems. It is a unique chance to grow professionally, expand networks, and gain real-world insights that are invaluable early in one’s career.

Application Requirements
To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must submit the following documents to [email protected] by January 30, 2025:

• Completed application sheet
• Current Resume – Highlighting your relevant experience, skills, and contributions to public health.
• Personal Essay (300 words) – In 300 words or fewer, please describe why you are interested in environmental health and how attending the MEHA Title V Conference would support your professional growth.

Applications due on January 30^th, 2026.

Contact: [email protected]

MEHA supports incoming local public health professionals who are passionate about public health challenges and those who are interested in discovering innovative solutions to these issues. MEHA believes in providing the opportunity to attend NEHA’s Annual Educational Conference (AEC), allowing new professionals to discuss current and looming environmental health issues, engage in environmental trainings, and build lasting networks.

The MEHA Emerging Professionals Scholarship is awarded to a MEHA member who has practiced in the public health sector for less than five years. Preference will be given to those who have never attended the AEC. The scholarship will cover up to $1800 towards NEHA’s AEC full conference registration fee, travel expenses, and hotel stay for the conference.

Applications will include:

• Completed application sheet
• Employment verification from current employer showing date of hire
• Current resume
• One letter of recommendation from an active MEHA member
• 300-500 word essay describing what you hope to gain by attending this year’s AEC and how will it would benefit your work

The scholarship recipient must be willing to present for 30 minutes about their AEC experience at an upcoming MEHA conference. The presentation should cover any new skill sets that can be learned at the AEC and how the attendance impacted their profession. 

The scholarship committee will contact the recipient immediately following the deadline and will announce the awardee on the MEHA website.