Scholarships
With sponsor support, the Arkansas River Basin Water Forum awards annual scholarships to help students pursue education and research in water resources.
We are now accepting scholarship applications!
College Information
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High School Information
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Meet The 2026 Recipients
Lynette Schwanger is a Master’s student in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at Colorado State University, with a focus on water resources and carbon management. Her coursework and projects center on the intersection of hydrology, wetland ecology, and policy, with an emphasis on high-elevation groundwater-fed wetlands such as fens. These ecosystems influence downstream water quality, wildfire resilience, and carbon storage in their peat soils. She is from Leadville, Colorado, and volunteers with Lake County Search and Rescue, currently serving as Secretary on its Board of Directors. Lynette also has previous experience as a partner, founder and CEO of Lightswitch Video, where she led complex projects, managed budgets and timelines, and worked with diverse stakeholders.
Lynette Schwanger
Michelle Stroy is a bachelor’s student in Environmental Engineering at Metro State University–Denver. Her studies include environmental microbiology, fluid mechanics, water quality engineering, and biological nutrient removal. She is interested in wastewater treatment, phosphorus removal, harmful algal blooms, and replacing water-intensive turf with climate-appropriate landscapes, all topics relevant to the Arkansas Basin. Michelle is from Aurora, Colorado, and serves as President of Engineers for Water Sustainability at her school. She also works as a waitress at the Original Pancake House in Cherry Hills, where she supports both customers and teams with consistency and professionalism.
Michelle Stroy
Izzy Chick graduated from the University of Utah in December 2025 with a double major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Political Science. She plans to attend law school at the University of Colorado Boulder this fall, with a goal to use law and policy to promote water conservation. She would like to work with water markets and conservation-based compensation programs to encourage participation from agricultural and rural water users. Izzy is from Campo, Colorado. The Baca County area relies heavily on groundwater wells fed by the Arkansas River and the Ogallala Aquifer. These water sources face challenges related to overuse, prolonged drought, and climate change, which pose a risk to long term water supply in the area. Izzy would like to help her community with these challenges. She has also studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Bogotá, Colombia, and serves as Treasurer of the Women’s Outdoor Leadership Initiative, helping coordinate outdoor recreation events.
Izzy Chick
Weston is a senior at McClave High School in Bent County. He plans to attend a four-year university to study animal science or soil science, with a minor in agricultural business. His goal is to work in the agriculture industry and eventually start his own business. Weston is from Hasty, Colorado, and has a strong passion for raising cattle. He is president of his 4-H Club and is involved in Future Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America, and the school newspaper. His experience includes building fence, checking cows, working calves, and working on center pivots. He was also part of the 5th-place team in the National Parliamentary Procedures contest. Weston hopes to gain knowledge to help address agricultural and environmental challenges such as soil health, water quality, and sustainable livestock production.
Weston Morgan
2025
William (“Will”) Selvidge, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Bachelor’s Student in Watershed Science
Osvaldo Garcilazo, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Master’s Student in Civil Engineering
2024
Jorge Santiago Ramirez Nunez, University of Colorado - Boulder
Leah Mickelson, Oregon State University E-Campus
Madelena Fetter, Colorado State University - Fort Collins
2022/2023
Kimmo Koponen, Colorado School of Mines PhD Student
Chrystal Cordova, Colorado School of Mines Masters Student
Semin Barlak, Colorado State University PhD Student
2021
Kate Hale, University of Colorado - Boulder
Heaven McKinley, Colorado School of Mines
Paradis Hosseini Ghasemabadian, Colorado State University - Fort Collins
2020
Ryan Bouton, International Open University Foundation with Universidad Azteca and Universidad Central de Nicaragua
Rehman Lund, Colorado State University - Fort Collins
2018/2019
Brian Craig, Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Sierra Heimel, Fort Lewis College
Evan Olivier, University of Colorado - Colorado Springs
2017
John Cox, Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Kelsey Cody, University of Colorado-Boulder
2016
Ansley "AJ" Brown, Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Kelsea MacIlroy, Colorado State University-Fort Collins
2015
Alice Hill, University of Colorado-Boulder
Elizabeth Koeble, University of Colorado-Boulder
Chelsey Nutter, Colorado State University-Pueblo
2012
Kimberly Schott, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Pradeep Gautam, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Matt Emmons, Colorado State University-Pueblo
2011
David Deitemeyer, University of Colorado -Colorado Springs
2010
Carrie Tucker, Colorado State University-Pueblo
2009
James Wittler, University of Colorado-Boulder
Kat McGarvy, Colorado State University-Pueblo
2006
Sosten Rivale, Colorado State University-Fort Collins