Mike and Karen Schutte Named Grand Marshals of UW Homecoming Parade

Longtime University of Wyoming supporters and community leaders Mike and Karen Schutte will be the grand marshals of the annual UW Homecoming parade Saturday, Oct. 22.

The Homecoming tradition, started in 1922, continues with this year’s theme of “Dancing in the Dirt.” A variety of events are scheduled Oct. 17-22.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.; however, the start time is subject to change upon announcement of the football kickoff time. The parade will begin at Cowboy Coffee on the corner of 14th Street and Grand Avenue; go west on Grand Avenue to Second Street; north on Second Street to Ivinson Avenue; and east on Ivinson to Ninth Street. The UW Alumni Association (UWAA) will coordinate the parade.

“As Wyomingites who serve their communities and the university, we wanted to celebrate Mike and Karen by having them as our grand marshals for this year’s Homecoming parade,” says Jack Tennant, UWAA executive director. “The Schuttes have more than earned this honor, and we cannot wait to celebrate alongside them.”

A native of Greybull, Mike attended UW on a football scholarship. He was a starter on the 1961 team, which only lost one game and was ranked 17th in the Coaches Poll. In 1963, he earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting.

After graduation, he worked in accounting and sales. In 1971, he became the national admissions director for Wyoming Technical Institute, also known as WyoTech. He was named president of the school in 1975, and he acquired ownership three years later. In 1986, he sold WyoTech and then retired.

An active community member, Mike served as president of the Laramie Chamber of Commerce, the Laramie Quarterback Club, Laramie Youth Baseball and the Laramie Country Club.

Mike’s support of his alma mater includes co-founding the Cowboy Joe Club in 1970 and serving on the Board of Trustees from 1987-1993. He and Karen are lifetime members of the UWAA.

Mike has received numerous awards and honors, including UW’s Distinguished Alumni Award and the Cowboy Joe Club White Hat award. Additionally, he was named Wyoming’s Businessman of the Year in 1986. He also was inducted into the Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

Originally from Lovell, Karen earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing/design from UW in 1987. She owned and operated an interior design business for 25 years. After she retired, she started researching and writing about her family’s history of German immigration. As a result of her efforts, she became an award-winning author of six historical fiction books, including “The Ticket,” “German Yankee” and “A Far Place.”

Karen has served on many boards and committees, including the Ivinson Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. Among her achievements, she was awarded a scholastic scholarship to UW and a PEN Award from Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.

The Schuttes have four sons, 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They currently live in Windsor, Colo.

Other Homecoming events scheduled are:

-- The UWAA, UW rodeo team and the Cowboy Country Swing Club will host the first “Tribute to Steamboat” event Thursday, Oct. 20, from 5-10:30 p.m. at the Cliff and Martha Hansen Livestock Teaching Arena, located at 306 Highway 230. For more information, visit www.uwyo.edu/alumni/homecoming/tribute-to-steamboat.html.

-- Homecoming check-in for the UW alumni University Store discount coupon will be available Friday, Oct. 21, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 22, from 7 a.m. until the end of the Homecoming parade. During Friday’s check-in, UW graduates can visit the UWAA table outside of the University Store, located in the Wyoming Union, to receive their University Store discount coupon, Pokes Pub beverage coupon and Homecoming T-shirt -- in limited sizes -- while supplies last. Saturday’s check-in will be located at the Cowboy Coffee event from 7 a.m. until the end of the parade.

Graduates who visit the UWAA table Friday will receive two 25 percent off discount coupons. One coupon can be redeemed Friday, and the second coupon can be redeemed Saturday. Members of the class of 1972, who will celebrate their 50th reunion, will receive a one-time use, 50 percent off coupon. The discount does not apply to textbooks, computers, select technology, food, university special project items, Fan Friday or already discounted or promotional items. Coupons cannot be combined or stacked with other discounts.

-- The UWAA will celebrate the 50th Club Reunion Oct. 21-22. The reunion will celebrate the class of 1972; all earlier graduated alumni are invited to attend. Registration is open through Friday, Oct. 14, at http://uw.uwyo.edu/2022reunion or email uwalumni@uwyo.edu for a registration packet.

-- The UWAA also will honor the 2022 Distinguished Alumni and Medallion Service Award recipients. Honorees are invited to the UW President’s Homecoming Dinner -- an invitation-only event -- Friday, Oct. 21. For more information about the awards, visit www.uwyo.edu/alumni/about-the-uwaa/da-msa.

For more information about the parade or other UW Homecoming events, visit www.uwyo.edu/homecoming, call the UWAA office at (307) 766-4166, or email uwalumni@uwyo.edu.