Ruth Powell Hutchins Water Center chose exemplary students for 2026–2027 Water Fellows cohort out of largest applicant pool to date
Five Colorado Mesa University students joined the statewide Colorado Water Fellows Program this year. The Ruth Powell Hutchins Water Center received a record 63 applications from interested students between Aug. 13 and Sept. 4, marking its most competitive applicant pool since the program’s inception at CMU in 2024.
The Water Fellows Program believes every major is a water major and welcomes students from all majors and disciplines at CMU to apply. Each year, the Water Center accepts five students in its cohort, and students receive a $1,000 stipend for their participation in the program.
This year’s applicant pool included students from 27 different major programs. Each of the selected 2026–2027 fellows represent a diverse discipline and show exemplary qualifications among their peers.
Fellows for the 2026–2027 Colorado Water Fellows Program include:
- Ari Murillo, Junior in Computer Science
- Gabrielle Genova, Junior in Civil Engineering
- Ivy Zipp, Senior in Environmental Science and Technology
- Kourtney Powell, Sophomore in Sustainable Agriculture
- Theo Frericks, Senior in Finance and Economics
Visit the Water Center’s Meet The Fellows webpage to learn more about this year’s cohort.
Of the fellows selected this year, the Water Center awarded Ivy Zipp a student research grant last spring for her research on acid mine drainage and the health of macroinvertebrate communities. Each of the selected students represents a diverse perspective and is passionate about water.
“I'm honored to join the Water Fellows Program and excited to learn from a community of students and professionals across so many disciplines,” said Murillo.
The Water Fellows Program supports the next generation of Colorado water leaders by exploring how water unites diverse voices across a wide range of fields. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students will learn about future internship and employment opportunities in the water field and how water shapes every part of their lives.
Program alumni have found professional positions and internships with the Water Center, Colorado Water Trust, Southwest Conservation Corps and other employers in the water field. 2025–2026 CMU Water Fellows cohort alum Briana Galland presented her research with CMU Professor of Civil Engineering Joel Sholtes at the Sustaining Watersheds Conference this month.
Visit the Water Center’s Student Research Grants webpage to learn more about upcoming and previous student research.
Throughout the 2026–2027 academic year, different water professionals will visit the Water Fellows during their monthly meetings. These experts will give presentations on critical water topics, such as water law, water equity and drought response. Site visits will provide additional opportunities to learn about water resources including irrigation, municipal water and wastewater management.
“All the students I have talked to that previously participated in the Water Fellows Program at CMU spoke so highly about the knowledge, connections and experience they gained from it. After our first meeting, I can already see that the program is deserving of the praise, and I am excited for the experiences to come,” said Zipp.
Fellows will participate in water conferences for free throughout the year, in addition to attending the annual Water Fellows Convening. The CMU Water Fellows will get the opportunity to meet other fellows from across the state at the convening.
CMU will offer the Water Fellows Program again in 2027 and 2028 thanks to funding from the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The Water Fellows Program includes 11 state-wide participating universities, 150 state-wide program alumni and represents 35 different majors. It is sponsored by Colorado State University’s Colorado Water Center, which receives additional support from the Walton Family Foundation.
The Water Center will open applications for the 2027–2028 cohort at the start of the fall 2027 semester. The Water Center encourages any interested students, and those not selected for the program this year, to apply during the next application cycle. Please reach out to CMU Water Fellows Coordinator Jordan Strickler with any questions at [email protected].