For Colorado Mesa University graduate Kyle Bishop, what started as a summer job at Clifton Water District while in high school has turned into a lifelong career. Bishop has spent half of his life at Clifton Water, ensuring residents have clean and safe water, all while staying true to his Maverick roots.
Bishop’s journey at Clifton Water began at just 16 years old as a summer maintenance worker. After a couple of summers and a part-time role during his senior year, he left for college, enrolling at Colorado State University (CSU) to study engineering.
While he embraced the experience of living away from home, he realized that the engineering path at CSU wasn’t where his true passion belonged. The longer he stayed, the stronger the pull of Grand Junction and the soul of the west became, leaving him uncertain about his future on the Front Range.
“Then, I got a call from the assistant manager at Clifton Water. He told me that if I came back to Grand Junction and pursued a science degree at CMU, there was a job waiting for me. It was like everything clicked into place,” said Bishop.
While earning his degree, Bishop worked full-time at Clifton Water. For him, pursuing his Environmental Science and Technology degree while working at Clifton Water went hand-in-hand.
“Getting an education in CMU’s Environmental Science Program while doing this career full time was picture perfect,” said Bishop. “Water is one of the most essential parts of our lives as human beings, and learning how it interacts with everything around us in class was so important.”
Bishop’s passion for the outdoors and the distinctive landscape of the Grand Valley also shaped his academic journey. He gained hands-on experience through fieldwork, with opportunities to study the hydrology of the Colorado River and explore the ecology of the Uncompahgre and Grand Mesa. The practical, hands-on nature of the curriculum directly complemented his work at Clifton Water, allowing him to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations.
Since graduating in 2013, Bishop has advanced his career at Clifton Water, where he currently serves as the Water Treatment Lead Operator.
“CMU was very instrumental in helping Kyle achieve his goal of becoming a water treatment plant operator at Clifton Water. He’s a dedicated team member and he knows our plant like no other,” said Clifton Water District Manager Ty Jones.
Several of Bishop’s colleagues at Clifton Water are also CMU alumni, with degrees ranging from biology and chemistry to engineering. The synergy between CMU and Clifton Water’s values makes graduates perfect for employment at Clifton Water. CMU’s human scale values and Clifton Water’s commitment to education seamlessly align, equipping alumni like Bishop and his coworkers with the foundation needed to excel in their careers.
The connection between CMU and Clifton Water doesn’t stop there. CMU and Clifton Water have an ongoing partnership which is now visibly represented by the addition of the CMU logo on the Clifton exit water tower. The unveiling of the logo was a fitting kickoff to Mav Month, celebrating Clifton’s integral role in Maverick country.
“Seeing the CMU logo on the water tower for the first time was a proud moment,” said Bishop. “I’m very proud to be a Maverick and provide safe, clean drinking water to our community.”