Posts from July, 2016

Beginning Monday, August 1, the Pinnacle Drive entrance (main entrance) to Eastern Wyoming College will be closed through August 22.  Employees, students and visitors to the campus should use the Pinnacle Drive exit as the entrance AND exit during this period of time.  FCI Constructors will begin laying the storm sewer line for the CTEC building and as a result will need to close the entrance until this phase of the project is complete.  Signs will be posted on West C Street indicating this change.   Please feel free to contact the President’s Office at 307.532.8303 with any questions.

The Eastern Wyoming College Lancer Booster Club invites fans and community members to their first Trivia Night which will be held on Friday, July 22, 2016 at 6 pm at the Goshen County Fair Grounds Rendezvous Center in Torrington, Wyoming.

Half of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Prairie Center Fire Relief Fund and the other half of the proceeds will benefit Eastern Wyoming College Athletics.  This 80’s themed Trivia Night will feature a cash bar, appetizers, prizes for top teams, best team and individual 80’s costumes, and silent auction.  Happy hour begins at 6 and the trivia will start at 7.

Tickets are $100 for a table/team of eight or may be purchased individually for $15 and you will join a team.  Tickets are available at the Goshen County Chamber of Commerce or from the Lancer Booster Club at 307.532.2691.

EWC Student KaylaRae Lawrence and Senator Mike Enzi in Washington, DC

Eastern Wyoming College GEAR UP and Veterinary Technology student KaylaRae Lawrence, sophomore, from Riverton, WY, recently attended the GEAR UP Alumni Leadership Academy (GUALA).

Lawrence was one of 24 students chosen from a nationwide pool of GEAR UP applicants.

GUALA is a 12-month leadership development program for alumni of the federal GEAR UP program. The selected alumni leaders travel to Washington, DC, and receive training on grassroots advocacy, social media advocacy, and leadership skills during a week-long retreat. The alumni leaders return home to work toward creating positive changes in the education policy for the younger GEAR UP students.

Lawrence returned from Washington DC where she had the opportunity to participate in the following:

• KaylaRae met and talked with Senator Mike Enzi, Representative Cynthia Lummis and Senator John Barrasso about the GEAR UP program
• She worked with CoolSpeak and learned how to share their personal GEAR UP stories and become comfortable speaking in public and represent the GU program. “CoolPrograms are curriculum based, multi-day seminars personally developed and designed to change the field of youth outreach,” said Lawrence.
• She had the opportunity to learn more about the GEAR UP program and how Wyoming and their local Community College GEAR UP programs work together at a national level
• Met with Reach Higher staff from the White House
• Had over 60 congressional meetings
• Brainstormed about service activities she would like to achieve with her local EWC GEAR UP/Wyoming GEAR UP this upcoming year
• Explored Washington, DC and learned how much history it holds.

“This is just a sample of what KaylaRae learned during her time in DC. She will return to EWC for the fall 2017 semester will be a Mentor for the EWC GEAR UP Club” shared Judy Brown, EWC GEARUP Director.

Lawrence will be a student GEAR UP Club representative, and has met with Judy Brown about ideas she has for the EWC GU Club and the program on campus.

GEAR UP is a federally funded college access and success program serving approximately 700,000 low-income students across 43 states and three territories in the United States. GEAR UP Wyoming, located at the University of Wyoming, serves more than 2,000 7^th-through 12^th-graders and college freshmen statewide. Services include academic tutoring, financial literacy, FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion assistance, college campus tours and parent engagement programs.

For more information about GEAR UP EWC, call (307) 532-8269 or email judy.a.brown@ewc.wy.edu

left to right John Hansen, Office of Development Director, Zach Smith, Head Men’s Golf Coach, Holly Lara, Administrative Specialist for Development present Zach Smith with a check to support the EWC golf program.

At the 26^th annual EWC Foundation Golf Tournament and Calcutta, $1,100 was raised to support the EWC golf program.  Over the past three years, EWC has qualified for the national tournament three times and has been steadily improving against the top community colleges in the country.

In 2016, EWC Golf, ranked first in Region IX winning outright, eight of their ten tournaments.  According to Zach Smith, coach of EWC Golf “We have been blessed with a talented group of student athletes and with a promising group of new recruits; we look forward to continuing our success.”

Part of the success of the EWC program is building community partnerships and providing opportunities that extend beyond the course.  This year EWC golfers Jared Pilkington and Eric Lovell participated in the Foundation’s Golf Tournament by being optional tee shot specialists on hole nine.  Of the 22 golf teams participating, 20 purchased the chance to play the lie of the EWC golfers tee shot.  Smith stated, “the golfers did a great job, sticking the ball within five feet of the pin on their first couple of shots.”  Smith continued, “providing a chance for community members to see EWC golfers in action, showcases their talent and will help them grow as young men and leaders in the community.”  Pilkington, who recently graduated from Scottsbluff High School and will be a new addition to the golf team, commented on the tournament by saying “It was awesome to meet community members who cherish the college and its athletic programs.  I was pleasantly surprised to see how many people in the community want to be involved.”

The 2016-2017 season looks promising for EWC golf as four sophomores will return to the team and a group of extremely talented freshman will be added to the lineup.  The golfers will be on campus in late August and their first tournament will be in Colorado.  Smith seeks to capitalize on their 2016 success by setting the goal of defending their Region IX championship and earning a 4^th consecutive trip to the national tournament.  Smith also attributes the success of the team to the support from Cottonwood Country Club.  “Dave Dent has been outstanding in his assistance, we have a beautiful course here in Torrington, and Dave is always willing to give time and support the team.”  For more information on EWC Golf, please contact Zach Smith (307) 532-8232 / zach.smith@ewc.wy.edu

Participants at the EWC Foundation golf tournament.

The Eastern Wyoming College Foundation hosted its 26th Annual Golf Tournament and Calcutta on June 18th. According to John Hansen, Director of Institutional Development for the College, “This year’s golf Calcutta was one of the best. Mike Schmitt, auctioneer did a tremendous job helping us raise funds for the College.”  Schmitt’s words of support for EWC in these challenging economic times help prod bidders to one of the highest valued Calcutta’s in the history of the event.”

Holly Lara, Administrative Specialist for the Office of Development, coordinated the tournament and commented, “It’s our sponsors and their belief in the College that makes the tournament successful.” Lara continued, “The success of the tournament is a team effort and having Foundation members who care, help plan, and work the event is the magic behind the scenes.” The co-chairs for the tournament this year were Joe Guth, Scott Prusia, and Janice Atkins-Neva Assisting them were committee member Ryan Yung and former Foundation Director Tom Gardner.

The results for the tournament are as follows: first place went to the team of Lynn Schukei, Gordon Schukei, Scott Prusia, and Michelle Prusia. In second place was the team of Rick Stapleton, Rad Smith, Roger Feagler, and Mary Feagler. Placing third was the team of Joe Guth, Gaylene Guth, Patrick Guth, and Brett Guth.  Rounding off the top teams and tied for fourth and fifth place were the teams of Bill Schmidt, Sue Schmidt, DJ Haskins, Dana Youtz; Tom Gardner, Kay Gardner, Toby Gardner, and Joe Deeney.

The tournament raised $8,500 this year to support student success at EWC.  For more information about the golf tournament or the EWC Foundation, contact John Hansen, Director of Institutional Development at 307.532.8304.

The Fitness Center at Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington will be closed July 25 through July 29 for annual cleaning. The Center will reopen on Sunday July 31^st at 4 pm.

Back row left to right: Madison Bloodgood, Kyle Nicolls, and Alyssa Barnsdale
Front row left to right: Kyle Sabourin and Paul Michael Cole

Eastern Wyoming College students recently traveled to the annual National Leadership and Skills Conference sponsored by SKillsUSA. SkillsUSA is a showcase of career and technical education students. This national championship was held in Louisville, Kentucky.

Top student winners received gold, silver and bronze medallions. Many also received prizes such as tools of their trade or scholarships to further their careers and education.

Kyle Sabourin, Farson, WY, was presented with a Bronze Medal for third in the “Job Interview” competition, and Paul Michael Cole, Torrington, WY a Bronze Medal for third in “Extemporaneous Speaking.” Madison Bloodgood, Torrington, WY, placed fifth in the “Nursing Assistant” event, and Alyssa Barnsdale, Lusk, WY, ninth in “Customer Service.” Kyle Nicolls, Torrington, WY was 14^th in “Welding Sculpture.”

Approximately 6000 high school and post-secondary students from all 50 states and Puerto Rico participated in this year’s conference. The Wyoming delegation included 69 students, with a total of 10 medal winners (including EWC’s two) and 30 placing in the top ten of their events.

“EWC was well represented with two national medals and three strong performances,” said SkillsUSA sponsor Andy Espinoza.

SkillsUSA programs teach leadership, citizenship and character development to complement technical skill training. The organization emphasizes respect for the dignity of work, ethics, workmanship, scholarship and safety.