The Colorado Water Center partners in supporting the John Fetcher Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District Scholarship each academic year.
The Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District provides two $2,000 one-year scholarships for full-time university student(s) who are pursuing a water-related career in any major at a public university within the state of Colorado. The Colorado Water Center administers the scholarship.
This year’s scholarship recipients are Kaydee Barker and Daniel Cleveland.
Kaydee Barker
Kaydee Barker is an accomplished student researcher and community volunteer who was motivated by firsthand experience to learn about the effects of climate change and mitigation. Kaydee earned an AA in Business from Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs and balances her time between an impressive array of student organizations, classes, and research projects. She is a Western Slope native and has a personal appreciation for the value of water in Colorado communities.
There are few people who are as passionate about the environment as Kaydee. Not only is she actively involved in environmental research, she is also involved with several environmentally-oriented student organizations such as the Society of Women Environmental Professionals (Vice President), Watershed Club, the Society for Ecological Restoration, and Strategies for Ecology Education, and the Diversity and Sustainability Club. Outside of that, Kaydee loves outdoor recreation activities such as kayaking, swimming, and fishing.
Kaydee has returned to school at Colorado State University in Fort Collins and is pursuing a BS in Ecosystems Science and Sustainability with a minor in Soil Science. Currently, she is working with Dr. Jill Baron, the Cortufo Soil Ecology Lab, and the Paustian Soil Lab, all at CSU. We are extremely interested to learn where Kaydee’s research takes her!
Daniel Cleveland
Daniel Cleveland is a seasoned engineer who has spent the past five years working extensively on agricultural water projects all around the world. Graduating with a BS in Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Daniel combines technical knowledge with a passion for natural resource work that has taken him from India to Sweden to the Philippines and three different US states.
Daniel’s belief in the importance of effective and sustainable water management drove him to leave a successful career in engineering and devote his life to sustainable agriculture and water management. Daniel is particularly interested in ecosystem resilience and how to ensure that watersheds can deal with ecological stress and climate change. He is currently working on restoring the land around Utterback Ranch, which is located just north of the Yampa River on Tow Creek.
In order to continue working towards his career aspirations, Daniel has enrolled in Colorado State University’s Graduate Program in Ecology. Daniel spends his time working with Dr. Paul Evangelista and the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, and he hopes that his work will lead him to work to benefit those in stressed watersheds, especially watersheds that support indigenous and marginalized communities. We are excited to see where Daniel’s work takes him next!
About the Colorado Water Center
The Colorado Water Center, one of 54 Water Resources Research Institutes created by the Water Resources Act of 1964, has served the greater Colorado community for nearly six decades. The Water Center leads interdisciplinary research, education and outreach to address complex and evolving water-related challenges in Colorado and beyond, fostering collaboration and inspiring the next generation of water leaders. Learn more at watercenter@colostate.edu
