Eleven WHS seniors, one Ten Sleep commit to UW

WORLAND — Eleven Worland High School seniors and one Ten Sleep senior participated in the second University of Wyoming Signing Day for academics this week.

Traditionally student-athletes going on to play at the collegiate level have participated in a signing day with dignitaries and their parents in attendance. Last year, for the first time, the University of Wyoming Office of Admissions and University of Wyoming Extension and 4-H partnered to give academic students who are furthering their academic career in college, the same opportunity as athletes, providing a statewide signing day.

The tradition continued this week across the state, with two signing days in Washakie County, one in Worland Tuesday and one in Ten Sleep Wednesday.

Washakie County 4-H Educator Amber Armajo and University of Wyoming Trustee David Bostrom of Worland spoke to the incoming freshmen at both schools.

In Worland, high school principal Wade Sanford then introduced each student and in Ten Sleep, Armajo, introduced the incoming freshman.

The students came to a table to sign commitment papers with Bostrom.

Students received a UW pen, and a University of Wyoming ball cap and a “I’m (Cowboy mascot) Bound” bumper sticker.

The groups also sang the Cowboys fight song, “Ragtime Cowboy Joe.”

Worland students participating Tuesday and committing to attend the University of Wyoming were Joslyn Alonzo, Pete Douzenis, Madison Dupree, Dalton Jeffries, Tristan Nemyo, Taylor Noland, Ivan Perez, Josiah Sanchez, Katelin Scheuerman, Kasia Strohman and Emily Wheeler. Alonzo, Sanchez and Wheeler said they would be the first in their families to become college graduates.

The senior committing to UW from Ten Sleep was Byron Powell.

Bostrom told the students that they have picked an institution that is “one of the finest in the country” and that has invested more than a billion dollars to update facilities at the university.

“What we are building is buildings. But the university if more than buildings. The university is about you and the educators. It is about what goes on inside those buildings,” Bostrom said.

He also invited the incoming freshmen to come and meet University of Wyoming President Laura Nichols when she visits Worland May 23. Details including date and location for the public meeting are being finalized.