Good Neighbor: Sundt Foundation Establishes $400,000 Endowed Scholarship for SFSU Students

Future San Francisco State University students will benefit from a $400,000 endowed scholarship made possible through the generous support of Sundt Construction and Walsh Construction, two of the nation’s largest water treatment construction firms.

As is customary for large-scale construction projects, Sundt formed a joint venture with Walsh Construction to serve as general contractor for the $717 million New Headworks Facility at San Francisco’s Southeast Treatment Plant. The project was completed in 2025.

“Giving back to the communities where we work is deeply rooted in the company’s culture,” said Sundt Community Relations Manager Emily Dwosh.

“Sundt as a whole is incredibly philanthropic, primarily through the Sundt Foundation,” said Dwosh, who also serves as executive director of the Sundt Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sundt Construction. “We have been giving for decades to nonprofit organizations. As an employee-owned company, our philanthropy is employee-owned as well, and our employees decide which organizations we want to support. The culture of giving back has been a core part of our history and how we operate as a company.”

“Giving back to the communities where we work is deeply rooted in the company’s culture. [...] The Sundt/Walsh Joint Venture was really committed to ensuring that the community around where we were building their project was going to continue to prosper beyond when the construction project was complete.”

—Emily Dwosh, Sundt Community Relations Manager and Executive Director of the Sundt Foundation

For the San Francisco project, Sundt/Walsh committed $4.5 million in cash contributions or volunteer time to nonprofits and other local organizations. This contribution of $400,000 to SF State was the largest single contribution as part of that commitment.

“We are delighted to have received this support from the Sundt/Walsh Joint Venture, which will benefit our students and our community for many years to come,” said SFSU Interim Vice President for University Advancement and Comprehensive Campaigns Anjali Billa. “This gift is the latest from a corporate partner who understands the value that an SFSU education brings to the San Francisco and state of California workforce pipeline.”

SFSU also receives support from Genentech, Sutter Health and other corporate partners that provide scholarships, internships, clinical lab placements and mentorship that provide SFSU students opportunities for academic and career success.

“This gift is the latest from a corporate partner who understands the value that an SFSU education brings to the San Francisco and state of California workforce pipeline.”

—Anjali Billa, SFSU Interim Vice President for University Advancement and Comprehensive Campaigns

The scholarship is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at SFSU who self-identify as having financial need. Sundt/Walsh also wanted to advance educational opportunities for students in neighborhoods surrounding its project. Because SFSU draws students from across the Bay Area, a substantial number meet these criteria.

San Francisco’s 884,000 residents, including many SFSU students and their families, rely on the Southeast Treatment Plant to process about 80 percent of the city’s wastewater. The plant handles sanitary sewage and stormwater runoff at a rate of 57 million gallons per day, with peak flows reaching 250 million gallons during major storms.

Sundt/Walsh replaced the existing headworks with a new all-weather facility capable of handling 250 million gallons per day. The upgrades increase efficiency, protect downstream equipment and minimize odors.

“The Sundt/Walsh Joint Venture was really committed to ensuring that the community around where we were building their project was going to continue to prosper beyond when the construction project was complete,” Dwosh said. “We wrapped up the project last year but have continued to stay involved in that community. We’re really glad to be partners with SF State.”