EWC Foundation Announces Distinguished Award Winners

TORRINGTON, WY –

The Eastern Wyoming College Foundation has announced the winners for the Foundation’s annual awards for recognition. The Distinguished Alumna is Dixie Roth and the Distinguished Service Award winners are Guido and Edie Smith.

Roth received her Associate of Arts degree from EWC in elementary education in 1982, and followed that with a BS in Elementary Education from Chadron State College in 1984. Ms. Roth currently teaches 5th grade at Trail Elementary in Torrington. She has a long history of service to the community including involvement with 4-H, the Goshen County Fair, Goshen County Cattlewomen, Prairie Center Firefighter, Sunday school teacher, member of the EWC agriculture advisory committee, and memberships in the Goshen County, Wyoming, and National Education Associations. Her 24 years of teaching have included 18 years at Prairie Center, and six years at Trail Elementary.

When asked about her time at EWC, Roth shared the following, “EWC gave me the confidence and academic preparation to complete my degree and begin a teaching career. The College allowed me to participate in activities such as Student Senate and the Livestock Judging Team, both of which reinforced by leadership skills and desire to become a teacher. I combine teaching with the family’s nationally recognized ranching operation where we raise registered cattle, feedlot cattle and herd bulls.”

She has received many honors and awards in her career, including Phi Alpha Theta Honorary, Casper Star Tribune Golden Teacher Award, Goshen County School District #1 finalist for Teacher of the Year, FFA Honorary Degree, 4-H Leader of the Year, and recipient of the Wyoming Honor Scholarship. Both of Dixie’s children, Sarena and Rustin, earned degrees from EWC as well.

This is the first year the EWC Foundation has awarded a distinguished service award. This award recognizes exemplary achievement in service and support of Eastern Wyoming College.

The first annual EWC Distinguished Service Award for 2011 is awarded to Guido and Edie Smith. The Smiths came to Torrington from their native Kansas in 1958, the year that Guido began teaching biology at Goshen County Community College. Since that time, few have served the College and the community as they have. While Guido was working to build the College through his more than four decades of service, Edie also made important and lasting contributions to its well-being. This award truly requires that both of these wonderful people be recognized together. Throughout Guido’s time at the College, Edie was always ready to work on campus projects and to host groups of local and state officials with humor, intellect and vitality. Edie has a long and successful career as a teacher in Goshen County schools yet still found time to prepare gourmet meals for College events hosted in their home.

Guido’s work on behalf of students in this region has been unmatched. He began teaching biology at EWC in 1958, and worked through a variety of positions including teacher, basketball coach, dean of instruction, occasional horticulturalist, and eventually president – a position he retired from in 1990. He has additionally served as a member of the EWC Foundation Board of Directors, retiring from that position in 2009. There are only a handful who can be said to have truly been the “heart and soul” of their college. Guido is one of those – in fact, when people think of Eastern Wyoming College, they are often really thinking of him and his impact on this institution’s growth and success.

Guido and Edie regularly attend multiple events at the College and continue to hold the institution and its mission near to their hearts. They are thoughtful, committed people who continue to exemplify service to their community and their college as few do or have done in this area or statewide. They are truly deserving of the first award from the EWC Foundation for Distinguished Service.

Both Roth and the Smiths received their awards at the EWC Commencement ceremony.

For more information about the Eastern Wyoming College Foundation, contact Oliver Sundby at 307.532.8304.