EWC Foundation honors scholarship donors and longtime supporters Rick and Nancy Vonburg

Event celebrates donors whose generosity fuels student success and honors decades of commitment to EWC.

TORRINGTON, Wyo. – Gratitude, connections, and celebration filled the room on Oct. 8 as the Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Foundation hosted its annual dinner honoring scholarship donors and student recipients. The evening also recognized a couple whose dedication to the College spans nearly five decades.

EWC Foundation President Todd Peterson presented the Albert C. Conger Distinguished Service Award to Rick and Nancy Vonburg of Torrington. The annual award, named for the College’s first president, honors exemplary leadership, support, and achievement that have significantly enhanced Eastern Wyoming College and the success of its students.

“Next to Guido Smith, Rick and Nancy’s long-term commitment to the college is unprecedented,” Peterson told the audience of more than 100 donors, students, and community members. Smith joined EWC in 1956 and served as president from 1984 to 1990.

Rick and Nancy began teaching at EWC in 1973. Nancy taught English and Business Etiquette for several years before raising their family of five children and later worked as a substitute teacher in the local school district. Rick retired in 2016 from his position as Department Chair of Agriculture, Business, Welding, and Cosmetology, and Instructor of Agriculture, Economics, and Statistics.

“Rick Vonburg created, oversaw, and instructed a very solid agriculture curriculum that prepared hundreds of students for continued studies at four-year institutions,” Peterson said. “After retirement, Rick has remained very involved in the college, serving on Ag Advisory Committees, the Foundation Board, and the Board of Trustees. Rick and his wife Nancy rarely miss any college function.”

Four of the Vonburgs’ children attended the banquet to honor their parents. The family also honors their late son, Trevin, through a memorial scholarship.

Following a memorial video tribute to the late Suzey Delger, Stephen Delger spoke to the audience about his wife’s love for the college and for nursing. Suzey helped establish the nursing program at EWC and served as its first director. The Delgers created a nursing scholarship in honor of all eight nurses in their family, with the hope of helping others achieve their dreams of entering what they call the most noble profession.

During the evening, Adahline Goulart, a sophomore agribusiness student from Lingle, shared remarks about the impact of scholarships and the community she has found at EWC.

“There are a number of students here, most definitely including myself, that would not be here on campus if it was not for the generosity of the scholarship donors,” Goulart said. “Not only do the scholarships give us the ability to purchase everything we need for our college adventure, they give us encouragement because they tell us that you believe in us and want to see us succeed.”

Goulart also spoke about the importance of relationships formed at the College.

“One thing that I absolutely love about EWC is the connections and the friends that you will make and probably keep,” she said. “The staff and faculty are welcoming and make EWC feel like home. Above all, EWC is a place where you can chase your career and your dreams and still be part of a community that knows how to come together and support each other through all of the ups and downs.”

The Eastern Wyoming College Foundation currently holds 110 scholarship funds and administers a number of pass-through scholarships. For the 2025–2026 academic year, the Foundation awarded $117,489 in scholarships to 134 students.

The Eastern Wyoming College Foundation was established in 1964 to act as the fundraising arm of Eastern Wyoming College. The EWC Foundation raises, receives, and manages private gifts to support student success through scholarships, program funding, and campus enhancements.