Graduate student Almuhanad Melhim received the first Jeff Krautkraemer “Pay it Forward” Scholarship at an award ceremony held by WSU’s School of Economic Sciences on Wednesday at Hulbert Hall.

The scholarship’s selection committee chose a recipient who had the most potential to carry on Krautkraemer’s vision of volunteering and being involved in community projects.

“I am very much honored to have been awarded his great scholarship,” said Melhim, who is a third-year graduate student working toward his doctorate in economics.

Melhim, who is from Syria, came to the United States in 2002 to study at WSU. He said his family has experienced the side effects of Syria’s agricultural policies, and he wanted to make a difference.

“Back then, I had no scientific knowledge or proof to convince policy makers,” he said.

Patti Gora, wife of the late Krautkraemer, organized the $1,000 scholarship that will be given each spring.

She said the selection committee looked at the applicants’ financial situations, academic performance and essays explaining their experiences of community service and engagement with community issues.

Melhim wrote his scholarship essay on his volunteer work and struggles to make changes on environmental issues in Syria.

He said he wants to find the root cause of the country’s problems, and hopes to have more scientific proof about harmful pollutions and other environmental issues when he returns to his country.

“I am here to gain knowledge and scientific tools I can use to make a difference in my country,” he said.

Melhim said he applied for the scholarship after he had heard about Krautkraemer’s work and his initiatives.

“I’ve never met him, but I respect him greatly,” Melhim said. “I can really relate to his legacy and his causes about agricultural and economic issues.” Krautkraemer, who died in December 2004, was a professor in the WSU School of Economic Sciences. His scholarly achievement in natural resource economics and his personal value in serving the community, led him to do volunteer work. His main causes were local and public health issues like field burning and air pollution.

Melhim thanked everyone for considering his essay and expressed appreciation for the scholarship in a short speech at the end of the award ceremony.

“I want to thank the founders of this scholarship, Krautkraemer’s family, the WSU faculty and the head of the economic sciences school,” he said.