Ozarka Spring Water Awards $30,000 in Scholarship Money to Texas Students.

"Every Drop Counts" Earth Science Scholarship Fund Designated for Texas Students Pursuing Degrees in Environmental/Earth Sciences

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Ozarka Natural Spring Water awarded two $10,000 scholarships and four $2,500 scholarships to six students pursuing careers in environmental/earth

As part of their educational commitment to Texas, Ozarka created an "Every Drop Counts" Earth Science Scholarship Fund in 2002. Statewide, Ozarka awards two annual $10,000 scholarships to two qualified Texas students who wish to major in hydrogeology, or any other Environmental/Earth Science that focuses on water conservation and preservation, at a four-year college or university. Additional scholarships are awarded to students in East Texas independent school districts where Ozarka has operations.

Emily Williams, a recent graduate of Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas, is pursuing a geology degree at Stephen F. Austin State University. "I am deeply honored to receive the Ozarka `Every Drop Counts' scholarship, which I will use in the Geology program at Stephen F. Austin State University this fall," said Miss Williams. "The scholarship money will be an enormous help in allowing me to take as many opportunities for field work as possible. When I graduate from SFASU, I want to work for the USGS monitoring the geological environment. I really appreciate the opportunities that this award offers me."

Cypress Ridge High School graduate Kevin Mulkern, winner of the second $10,000 "Every Drop Counts" scholarship, will be pursuing a geological sciences degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Four high school seniors were awarded $2,500 each in four East Texas independent school districts (ISD). Each senior demonstrated an aptitude for earth/environmental sciences and plans to pursue a career in the field. Scholarships are available annually to these local ISDs in Ozarka's East Texas spring communities.

"As a company, we strongly support environmental education in Texas," said Ozarka Natural Resource Manager and hydrogeologist David Feckley. "Through our annual scholarship programs and support for educational initiatives, we hope we're creating new learning experiences for Texas students who share our dedication to preserving the environment. We are very pleased to help these six students with their college educations."

Students interested in pursuing next year's "Every Drop Counts" Scholarship Fund are encouraged to contact their high school counselor or college advisor regarding scholarship rules and guidelines. New applications are mailed to all Texas high schools and colleges in late August and are also available at www.ozarkawater.com and www.collegefortexans.com. Next year's winners will be selected in June 2008.

Ozarka Spring Water, founded in 1905, has led bottled water sales in Texas for two decades. Based in Ft. Worth, TX, Ozarka has been a division of Nestle Waters North America Inc. since 1987. Ozarka has earned an outstanding reputation for its expertise in spring source protection, environmentally responsible operations and industry-leading quality controls.