EWC Foundation Announces 2014 Distinguished Award Winners

The Eastern Wyoming College Foundation has selected former EWC board of trustees chairman Carl Rupp as its Distinguished Alumni honoree for 2014.   Rupp is the 24^th recipient of this annual honor.   Rupp joins a long list of individuals whose careers and lives have been impacted by their attendance at Eastern Wyoming College.  The Foundation has additionally recognized Mrs. Dolores Kaufman and Ms. Patti Sue Peterson as 2014 honorees for the Albert C. Conger Distinguished Service Award.

Huntley native Carl Rupp received his Associate of Arts Degree from Eastern Wyoming College (Goshen County Community College) in 1967, followed by a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Wyoming in 1970.   He was a third generation farmer of Rupp Farms near Huntley, Wyoming, where he farmed prior to retiring and moving into the Torrington community in 2012.

Rupp has served on a variety of boards and commissions since returning to Goshen County in 1970, including the American Stabilization and Conservation Service county board, the Farmers Home Administration county board, the WyoBraska Sugar Beet Growers Association (co-founder), the Community Hospital Board (including as president), various public school building committees and the Huntley Fire District  Board.  He served as a director of Tri County Bank (now Platte Valley Bank) for 27 years, on the West Highway Sewer District, and currently serves as a Goshen County Commissioner.  He served on the Eastern Wyoming College Board of Trustees for twelve years, including serving as president of the board from 2010 to 2012.

When describing the impact that Eastern Wyoming College has had on his life and career, Rupp said, “Enrolling at Goshen County Community College was the best thing I could have done after injuring my kidney as a freshman football player at the University of Wyoming.  All of my credits from GCCC transferred back to UW when the time came and gave me a solid background to succeed.  The true value of my EWC degree is that it said to the world that I had the ability to learn and be proud of my accomplishments.   These experiences helped me on the farm for many years, and again in my roles in community service – including as a trustee at Eastern Wyoming College.”   He continued, “it has been my privilege to work with so many extraordinary people who have helped me with important decisions throughout life.   I feel it is extremely important to work with others to help the community and achieve successful outcomes while ‘enjoying the journey’.”

The EWC Foundation Distinguished Service Award has been renamed in honor of the College’s first president, Al Conger.   The Albert C. Conger Distinguished Service award honorees for 2014 are Dolores Kaufman and Patti Sue Peterson.

Mrs. Kaufman has given over 35 years to Eastern Wyoming College, first as an elected member of the Board of Trustees, during which she served as president of the Board for 12 years.  Following her tenure as a member of the EWC Board of Trustees, she was named to the Eastern Wyoming College Foundation board of directors, a position she held from 2000 to 2009.  During her tenure on the Board of Trustees and on the EWC Foundation board, the College expanded facilities and increased opportunities for students through expansion and remodeling of the Student Center, and as a Foundation member she was involved through her leadership and personal support with expansion and construction in the veterinary technology program, the welding program and construction of a new student residence, Lancer Hall.

Patti Sue Peterson worked at Eastern Wyoming College for over 33 years, following her own completion of the Vet Tech program in 1974.  During her early years at the College, she worked directly for Doctor John Simons, who originated the College’s acclaimed program in Veterinary Technology.  She had been an integral part of building this program into one of the programs for which EWC is widely – even nationally -known.  Her work included development of lectures, curriculum, and hands-on laboratory experiences as well as working to complete the intensive AVMA accreditation requirements on four different occasions over her 33 years on campus.  She co-chaired Higher Learning Commission accreditation committees in 2009, including participating on committees evaluating campus-wide curriculum and professional development processes

She was the division chair for the Science and Math division from much of her on campus career, during which time the vet tech program continued its development and growth.   Her many years of service and dedication to the College, its students and the Vet Tech program were additionally recognized in 2010 with her nomination for the statewide honor of Faculty Member of the Year at the annual conference of the Wyoming Association of Community College Trustees.

All three of the honorees will be recognized by Foundation president Patrick Korell at the College’s commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 9, 2014 at 7 pm in the Fine Arts Auditorium.

For more information about the Eastern Wyoming College Foundation, contact Oliver Sundby at 307-532-8304.

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