Eastern Wyoming College has announced that Wyoming Supreme Court Justice, Keith Kautz, has been selected as the commencement speaker at the 73rd annual event to be held on Friday, May 13, 2022 at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm in the EWC Fine Arts Center Auditorium.

The Honorable Justice Kautz was appointed to his position on August 4, 2015, by Governor Matthew H. Mead, and was retained in office in the general election in November 2016. Justice Kautz served as a District Judge in Wyoming’s Eighth Judicial District (Goshen, Platte, Converse and Niobrara Counties) from January 1993 to August 2015. Before taking the bench, Justice Kautz practiced law in Sheridan and Torrington. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1975 and from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1978.

While on the bench, Justice Kautz served on numerous boards and commissions including the Wyoming Board of Judicial Policy and Administration, Wyoming Civil and Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions Committees and the Wyoming Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics. He is a Commissioner on the Uniform Law Commission. Justice Kautz is the chair of Wyoming’s Continuing Judicial Education Committee and Criminal Division of Wyoming’s Permanent Rules Advisory Committee.

Justice Kautz has been married for 47 years (Karen) and has 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

Graduates earning Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Associate Degree in Nursing will participate in the 10:00 am ceremony. Those graduates earning an Associate of Applied Science or Certificate will participate in the 2:00 pm ceremony.

Ms. Kelly Strampe, Associate Professor – English and Arts, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences Department Head, will serve as the Master of Ceremony for both ceremonies.

Dr. Richard Patterson, Interim President, will provide a welcome and introduce special guests. Student Senate President, Mr. Jonathan Pieper, will address the graduates on behalf of the students.

Justice Kautz will speak followed by EWC Foundation President Mr. Todd Peterson presenting the 2022 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. Robert Baumgartner, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

The EWC Commencement Ceremony will be available by webcast. Please visit the College’s website at ewc.wy.edu or social media pages for the link. For more information about Commencement at EWC, please call 307.532.8303.