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The Commitment to Diversity Award is named after Dr. Willena Wilkinson Stanford, a former faculty member in the UW Department of African American and Diaspora Studies. Dr. Stanford demonstrated a commitment to the education of all students during her tenure at UW. She is remembered for her contributions to the appreciation of diversity at the university and for her service on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Days of Dialogue Steering Committee.
This prestigious award recognizes students who, through their actions, have demonstrated a commitment to enhance and support diversity and equal educational opportunities for all students at UW.
The Willena Stanford Diversity Award was established in 2006 to recognize students who, through their actions, have demonstrated a commitment to enhance and support diversity and equal educational opportunities for all students at UW.
The award was created in honor of Stanford, a former University of Wyoming African American and Diaspora Studies instructor. Stanford was a former member of the MLK DOD committee and a longtime member of the UW faculty who had a strong commitment to the education of all students and made significant contributions to diversity at the university.
Nominations for the Willena Stanford Commitment to Diversity Award will be accepted through Friday, January 8th, 2021 (deadline extended). The award, sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Days of Dialogue (MLK DOD) steering committee, is available to any UW student enrolled for the 2021 spring semester.
Nominations will be accepted from UW students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Nominations should be in a one-page letter with the subject: Willena Stanford Diversity Awards and sent to Julio Brionez. Questions about eligibility may also be directed to Julio.
The nomination letter should include the nominee’s name, class standing, major, and how the nominee has enhanced and supported diversity at UW. The nominators should include information about themselves, including their names, titles, contact information and relation to the nominee(s).
A committee will make the selection, with the winner and all nominees recognized at the Martin Luther King Jr. Days of Dialogue Virtual Award Ceremony. The MLK DOD steering committee funds the award. MLK DOD will be in February 2021. Additional programming information to follow.
For more information about the Stanford award or MLK DOD program, call Julio Brionez at (307) 352-9554 or email jbrionez@uwyo.edu.
To make the virtual ceremony feel more personalized and engaging, this year we will be reaching out to finalists’ nominators for an optional video compilation that can include finalists’ peers, friends, family members, and nominators. We will have resources and support available should you need it. We will be looking to begin working with these videos the second week of January. Please do not hesitate to reach out to call Jay McKendall at 307-766-6492 or email jmckenda@uwyo.edu if you have any questions or concerns about this optional addition.
|
Year |
Student |
Hometown |
|
2006* |
|
Cheyenne, WY |
|
2007 |
Helen Chanthongthip |
Rawlins, WY |
|
2008 |
Green River, WY |
|
|
2009 |
Walnut Creek, CA |
|
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2010 |
Alliance, NE |
|
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2011 |
Cheyenne, WY |
|
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2012 |
Wheatland, WY |
|
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2013 |
Casper, WY |
|
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2014 |
Kwara, Nigeria |
|
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2015 |
Torrington, WY |
|
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2016 |
Charlotte, NC |
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2017 |
Ethete, WY |
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2018 |
Torrington, WY |
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2019 |
Taryn Jim |
Ethete, WY |
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2020 |
Fort Washakie, WY |
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2021 |
Oak Park, IL |
* The first award was presented in 2006
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