Students will learn more about the University of Wyoming, UW alumni will connect with their alma mater, and members of the public will find out more about UW’s presence in Carbon County during a “UW in Your Community” gathering Wednesday, Oct. 26, in Rawlins.
The public is invited to the event from 5-7 p.m. at the Jeffrey Memorial Community Center. Free appetizers will be served, and there will be a cash bar.
UW President Ed Seidel will be in attendance and speak during a brief program. He will highlight the university’s efforts to prepare students for the modern economy and boost entrepreneurism and the state’s economy, among other topics. He’ll be joined by current UW students from Carbon County: Kaitlyn Campbell, of Saratoga, a sophomore in computer science who excels on the UW debate team; and Brittney Rodriguez, of Rawlins, a sophomore majoring in zoology.
Additionally, Meghan Kerley, UW’s IMPACT 307 business counselor for Carbon County, will briefly discuss the inaugural Carbon County Start-Up Challenge, UW’s collaborative involvement in the new Carbon County Innovation Hub and other efforts to support entrepreneurism in the county.
A representative of UW’s Wyoming Migration Initiative will discuss the collaborative mapping of wildlife migrations and road mortalities that has led the Wyoming Department of Transportation and Wyoming Game and Fish Department to plan for construction of the first Interstate 80 wildlife overpass near Elk Mountain.
And Emily Haver, a UW Extension educator in Carbon County, will be on hand to show the results of hands-on makerspace projects by students from across the county aimed at encouraging girls to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Before the evening event, Seidel, a UW faculty member and the current UW students from Carbon County are scheduled to speak to students during assemblies at Rawlins High School and Saratoga Middle/High School.
The Carbon County gathering is the second in a series of “UW in Your Community” gatherings planned around the state.
“This will be a great opportunity for community members to interact with President Seidel and others from UW; learn about exciting initiatives for students and the state; and see some of the collaborative work UW is doing with local partners,” says Chad Baldwin, UW’s associate vice president for marketing and communications. “UW alumni and everyone across Carbon County are invited for what will be a fun evening.”