Eighty-five of Wyoming's most talented sophomores will participate in the annual University of Wyoming Summer High School Institute (SHSI) June 6-26.
The students, nominated for SHSI by their schools and then selected by a group of UW faculty members, enjoy a rare opportunity to learn and exchange ideas without concern about grades or credits.
Among the areas to be studied are world hunger, robotic and computer engineering, creative writing, ethics and society, study of hip hop in American Society, understanding cultural development, pharmacy and folktales from around the world. An array of stimulating speakers and films, field trips and recreational events will be offered.
"We want to challenge imaginations, focus diverse disciplines on specific issues or problems and integrate various individual talents into a larger perspective," says Duncan Harris, program director.
The goals are to help selected high school students achieve their academic and personal potential and cultivate leadership capabilities. The program is designed to expand students' horizons, develop their adaptability, creativity and critical thinking abilities and heighten their sensitivity to future possibilities for themselves and society. SHSI strives to stimulate and reward excellence in Wyoming schools.
A select group of UW faculty members and special consultants will work closely with students in classes, seminars and extracurricular activities. Applications for next year's institute will be available at all Wyoming high schools in early December.
The students and their high schools are:
Big Horn High School -- Darien Gostas.
Big Piney High School -- Alayna Nelson.
Buffalo High School -- Alicia Gray.
Campbell County High School -- Raleah Cisneros, Bobbie Jo Goodchild and Matthew Smith.
Central High School -- Lucas Anderson and Tricia Summers.
Cody High School -- Croix Larsen, Brennan Sheridan, Garret Sides and Galen Tribble.
Cokeville Jr./Sr. High School -- Daniel Cook.
Douglas High School -- Gretchen Gielisch and Amanda Kornegay.
Dubois Jr./Sr. High School -- Jerid McCabe.
East High School -- Angel Barber and Ivan Larson.
Evanston High School -- Genie Anderson, Danielle Gerrard, Keegan Haukaas, Tatiana Paucarpura and Brady Saxton.
Farson-Eden High School -- Shelby Ruhs.
Glenrock High School -- Kaylynn Kindt, McKenzie Tholl and Shayla Wickett.
Green River High School -- Justin Bayles, Abby Goyn and Christine Whisonant.
Greybull High School -- Felix Weese.
Guernsey-Sunrise Jr./Sr. High School -- Frankie Tang.
Hulett School -- Ramsey Cummings.
Kelly Walsh High School -- Timothy Nganga and Cindy Sun.
Kemmerer Jr./Sr. High School -- Hannah Crank, Stephen Fagnant and Jordan Warpness.
Laramie High School -- James Huang and Ruiqi Yang.
Little Snake River Valley High School -- Natalie Duncan.
Lovell High School -- Melissa Ellis and Mark Grant.
Lyman High School -- Kelli Eyre.
Moorcroft Jr./Sr. High School -- Siera Richter.
Mountain View High School -- Trey Briggs.
Natrona County High School -- Seth Bassham and Donald Bellamy.
Newcastle High School -- Laura Christiansen and Sarah Mark.
Niobrara County High School -- Ryan Prather and Susie Webb.
Pine Bluffs High School -- Abigail Achee.
Powell High School -- Kyle Gilman, McKenna Miller and Kimberly Moore.
Rawlins High School -- Michaeal O'Bryant.
Riverton High School -- Tyler Graham, Amy Shaner and Alexandra Yeatman.
Rock Springs High School -- Jake Coleman, Kylie Cox, Tyler Dewey, Pauline Ha, Samantha Newman, Aaron Strom and Ethan Weir.
Saratoga High School -- Erin Wimpenny.
Sheridan High School -- Bailie A. Dannels, Kelly Oltio and Gabrianna Janee Ruskowsky.
Southeast Jr./Sr. High School -- Alexi Baker.
Star Lane Center -- Jacob Hebert, Nick McDill.
Star Valley High School -- Kevin Crook, Benjamin McArthur and Katherine Schooner.
Tongue River High School -- Sara Ogle.
Torrington High School -- Ryan Lewandowski.
Wheatland High School -- Daniel Wurth.
Wind River High School -- Elizabeth Dalyn Grindle.
Worland High School -- Alec Hampton, Cassie Hefenieder and Briana Roberts.
