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Left to right: Newcastle Instructor Shirley DeMerritt, Taylor Moore-Woods (Moorcroft), Chelsey Nehmer (Sundance), Summer Rath (Newcastle), Sundance Instructor Janet Cole Lake, Aislyn Wacker, Tanner Sandford, and Bailey (Jones) Gose (all from Sundance), Ephraim Black (Newcastle), Online Instructor Ayme Ahrens (Sheridan), and EWC CCRC Director Callie Allred (Torrington). Sundance graduates included Victoria Nelson and Evan Finn, who were unable to attend.

Nine local students received their Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) College and Career Readiness Center (CCRC) HiSET diplomas in Sundance on May 22.  HiSET is a high school equivalency program that includes studies and testing in Language Arts Reading and Writing, Math, Social Studies, and Science. The HiSET credential is accepted by all institutions of higher learning, the military, and by employers. The HiSET program is free of charge for anyone 16 or older.

The Eastern Wyoming College Lancer Golf Team of George Cordall, Leander Suttka, Noah Taylor, Oscar Behle, and Ryker Dunkley finished their season with a top 10 team finish at the NJCAA Men’s National Championship held in Newton, Kansas May 16-19.

“I’m so proud of the way the team played all week,” EWC Head Golf Coach Zach Smith said of the Lancers’ highest National Championship finish ever. “Everyone played an important role in getting to this point and I couldn’t be happier for the guys.”

The Lancers finished in a tie for 10^th place with Dodge City Community College with a score of +30. Indian Hills Community College won the tournament with a -25. McCook Community College finished 16^th with a +40.

“We played well enough the first three days to put us in a decent spot heading into the fourth and final day,” Smith said. “It was windy and rainy on the final day, which was nothing new to our typical conditions in Region IX, so we were able to jump five spots due to some very steady play from the guys.”

On the individual side EWC’s Cordall finished in a tie for 21^st with a +1 and Taylor finished in a tie for 43^rd with a +7. Lancers Suttka finished the tournament with a +13, Behle finished with a +19, and Dunkley ended the season with a +22.

“I’m going to miss the guys that are done at EWC and wish them nothing but the best, I know they’ll do some great things,” Smith said. “I want to say a big thanks to Harry Walch, a former Lancer golfer, who has helped at the national championship the last three years. Without his help this week, we wouldn’t have had the best finish at the national championship in Lancer golf history.

Behle graduated this year. Suttka, Taylor, and Dunkley will return next fall.

“I’m excited for next season,” Smith said.

Eastern Wyoming College will be closed Monday May 29 in observance of Memorial Day. Offices will reopen on Tuesday May 30. The Fitness Center will be closed May 27-29 and will resume normal summer operating hours on Tuesday May 30.

Eastern Wyoming College is bringing in Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Millar to speak at Lingle/Fort Laramie, Southeast, and Torrington High Schools on Wednesday, May 10 and the public is invited.

“Ryan’s story is one of facing and overcoming challenges to become a winner,” EWC Director of Institutional Development John Hansen said. “It is a story we can all learn from and apply to our lives.”

Millar is a three-time Olympian volleyball player who was a member of the gold medal winning team at the 2008 games in Beijing.

The public is invited to attend the events at the area high schools. He will be speaking at Southeast High School on Wednesday, May 10 at 10 a.m. (1 Lacy St, Yoder). Millar will speak at Torrington High School at 1 p.m. (2400 W C St., Torrington). He will speak at Lingle/Fort Laramie at 10 a.m. (404 E 3rd St., Lingle) on Thursday, May 11.

The events are funded by the EWC Foundation.

“The foundation shares a strong belief in building a connected school community,” Hansen said.

Millar is a senior partner with Partners in Leadership working with business leaders to transform culture, develop a company’s workforce, and deal with different business challenges. He has over 25 years of leadership experience. He also hosts a podcast, “Unlocking Excellence.”

He also owns and operates Gold Medal Mindset LLC where Millar coach’s leaders on building world class teams while helping others break through barriers, overcome doubts, and take large strides towards delivering desired outcomes.

He received his MBA from the Keller School of Management in 2022 and his under-graduate degree from BYU. Millar is also a member of the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame as an All-Time Great Player

Millar will be EWC’s commencement speaker on Friday, May 12. There will be two Commencement Ceremonies. AAS and Certificate Program at 10 a.m. and the AA, AS, ADN will be held at 2 p.m. in the EWC Fine Arts Center Auditorium.

Eastern Wyoming College’s gunsmithing students will showcase their work at the annual Gunsmithing Open house Thursday, May 11, from 4-7 p.m. at 800 South Wind River Drive, Douglas.

“There are 10 students that will be graduating and this show is the final assessment for the program,” EWC gunsmithing instructor Glen Morovits said. “They will be showcasing a variety of different firearms that they worked on or built in the last two years. They will also have tools and knives they made.”

The Gunsmithing program on EWC’s Douglas Campus prepares students to make, reproduce, maintain and modify firearms according to blueprints or custom specifications using specialized hand tools and machines. The program provides students with hands-on training to learn the gunsmithing trade and skills to gain employment as a gunsmith.

The show is open to the public.

For more information about the gunsmithing program contact Morovits at 307-624-7014 or gmorvitis@ewc.wy.edu.

The Eastern Wyoming College Lancer Rodeo Team traveled to Laramie for the University of Wyoming’s Laramie River Rendezvous College Rodeo held April 27-29. This was the final rodeo of the year for the Central Rocky Mountain Region.

In the steer wrestling EWC sophomore Donald Quick, Craig, CO split third in the long round, seventh in the short round and seventh in the average. For the year-end standings in the Steer Wrestling Bridger Amiotte, sophomore, Wall, SD ended up 13^th and Quick ended up 24^th.

In the team roping freshman Coy Thar, Rozet, WY placed ninth in the long round and 10^th in the average. For the year end in the team roping Quick ended up 19^th on the heading side, on the heeling side Colton Zimmerman, freshman, Wellington, CO ended the season ninth, sophomore Justin Chasek, Mitchell, NE 16^th and Coy Thar 19^th.

In the Calf Roping Chasek Split fourth in long round sixth in the short go and placed fifth in the average. For the year end standings in the calf roping. Zimmerman ended up eighth, Seth Glass, freshman, Central City, NE, 17^th, Chasek 19^th, Thar 24^th and sophomore Trace Travnicek, Minatare, NE 25^th.

EWC’s Zimmerman ended up third in the rookie of the year standings in the region.

The EWC men’s team was eighth in the Region.

On the women’s side of things, EWC sophomore Ryker Goodman, LaBarge, WY, was sixth in the first round of the breakaway. She ended up eighth in the average. Sophomore Karissa Rayhill, Martin, SD ended up 22^nd and sophomore Brenlee Logan, Rock Springs, WY, was 38^th in the breakaway roping.

In the barrel racing Goodman was 10^th in the long round, fifth in the short go and fifth in the average. Rayhill was ninth in the long go, sixth in the short go and sixth in the average. For the year end in the barrels Rayhill ended up seventh and Goodman was 30^th.

In the goat tying Rayhill split second in the long round, second in the short go and third in the average. Rayhill ended up fourth in the year end standings in the goat tying, sophomore Hanna Huffman, Burwell, NE was 16^th and Goodman 24^th.

For the weekend Rayhill was fourth in the women’s all-around and Ryker was sixth.

In the Women’s ALL around year end standings Rayhill ended up second which qualified her in two events to go to the College National Finals in June. She will participate in goat tying and barrel racing.

The EWC Women’s Team was fourth in the Region.

Ryan Millar to serve as EWC Commencement Speaker

Eastern Wyoming College has announced that Gold Medal Mindset and Culture Partners, Mr. Ryan Millar will be the commencement speaker at the 74^th annual event to be held on Friday, May 12, 2023. There will be two Commencement Ceremonies. AAS and Certificate Program at 10:00 am and the AA, AS, ADN will be held at 2:00 pm in the EWC Fine Arts Center Auditorium.

Ryan Millar is Senior Partner with Culture Partners where he works with business leaders to unleash the power of culture to inspire businesses and people to reach their full potential. With over 25 years of experience in professional leadership roles and as an expert in change management, culture management, and creating positive accountability throughout all levels of an organization, Ryan is a highly regarded consultant, facilitator, and sales executive. He also owns and operates Gold Medal Mindset LLC where he coaches leaders on building world class teams while helping others break through barriers, overcome doubts, and take large strides towards delivering desired outcomes.

After starting his professional career in 1997 touring with the USA Volleyball team, he went on to compete in three Olympic Games. In 2008, he helped the USA win their first Olympic Volleyball Gold Medal in twenty years at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. He also competed in four World Cups, two World Championships, five World League Finals, and four Olympic Qualification Tournaments before eventually retiring from the sport in 2012 after serving as an alternate for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Millar achieved his MBA from the Keller School of Management in 2022 and his under-graduate degree from BYU. Mr. Millar is also a member of the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame as an All-Time Great Player.

A graduation barbecue for students and their families will be held in the Student Center between ceremonies.

Ms. Gwendolyn Yung, Associate Professor – Health Technology, will be the Master of Ceremonies. Dr. Jeffry Hawes, President, will provide a welcome and introduce special guests.

Following the address by Mr. Millar, EWC Foundation President Mr. Todd Peterson will then present the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Albert C. Conger Distinguished Service Award.

Mr. Roger Humphrey, Vice President for Academic Services, will present the candidates for graduation.  Following will be the presentation of degrees and certificates by Mr. Bob Baumgartner, Board of Trustees Chair.

For more information about Commencement at EWC, please call 307.532.8220.

“Kickstart Wyoming’s Tomorrow Scholarship” is an exciting new state-wide program offering up to $1,800 per semester toward tuition at Wyoming’s eight community colleges and the University of Wyoming. The new state-funded scholarship program is for those aged 24 and older who want to pursue a degree or certificate, or need to take more classes to finish a degree they already started.

“Eastern Wyoming College is excited to support this scholarship program as this initiative is what the community college is all about,” EWC President Dr. Jeffry Hawes said. “I personally believe this opportunity aligns perfectly with the college’s mission to provide opportunities to enable people to achieve their goals and enrich their careers.”

The Kickstart Wyoming’s Tomorrow Scholarship was created and funded by the Wyoming Legislature to help working adults obtain the skills and education necessary to re-enter the workforce, move up in their current careers, or pursue new career paths. Those eligible could receive up to $1,800 per semester if they are enrolled in 12 or more credit hours, and students are eligible for up to four full-time academic terms.  Scholarship funds are limited, so all awards are dependent on funding availability.

Beyond the age requirement, applicants must be Wyoming residents, complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and register for the Wyoming At Work program through the Department of Workforce Services. This program provides access to information and career resources to assist in the job search process.

For more information, on how to apply visit ewc.wy.edu/wyomings-tomorrow/ or call 307-532-8200, and charge into a bright future at Eastern Wyoming College.