UW

Thirteen University of Wyoming at Casper (UW-Casper) students showed their appreciation for a generous scholarship at a recent luncheon.

As recipients of Myra Fox Skelton Foundation scholarships, the students expressed their gratitude to the foundation for allowing them to pursue their education while participating in their children’s lives and serving their community.

Skelton scholarships are awarded annually to single parents who achieve academic success at UW-Casper, and participate in community service activities. The monthly awards allowed students to reduce workloads, giving them time to study and spend with their children.

During the luncheon, students described how the scholarship helped them to continue their education. Through tears of gratitude, they told how they could watch their children grow, inspire their children toward their own academic success, and support their children’s needs while seeking degrees to make a better life.

Skelton, the fund’s benefactor, dedicated her life to church, education and charity. She was elected superintendent of schools in Hot Springs County at age 23 -- the youngest person to ever hold that office in Wyoming. Upon her death in 1986, Skelton’s estate was entrusted to the foundation for annual distribution toward the causes to which she felt endeared.

The 2013-2014 Myra Fox Skelton scholars are elementary education majors Kira Barnett, Peggy Darling-Kvernum, Erindira Garcia and Tara Paris; social work majors Rachael Clark, Brooke Johnson, Yovani Sanchez, Katelyn Taft and Emily Wynn; journalism major Rachael Moen; communication major Stacie Thurston; social science major Morgan Martin; and criminal justice major Rocio Zubia-Molina.