Even growing up in the Austin, Texas, area, Alexander Carter dreamed of attending the University of Wyoming. He comes from a long line of alumni; in fact, he is a fourth-generation UW student from the family and says he “takes great pride in being a Poke.”
Carter has finished his third year at UW, where he is studying physiology and pharmacy. Upon graduation, he hopes to continue at UW in the pharmacy school. “In high school I didn’t have any experience in medicine,” he says, and in fact always thought he’d be a business major. Just before he arrived to start his first year, he’d made that choice.
Carter is also in the honors program and is a member of the Western Thunder Marching Band. “I’m a big music person,” he says. He started in Western Thunder as a euphonium player, then section leader and in the 2014–15 year will be a drum major, one of the people who conducts the band.
He also stays busy on service projects with Kappa Kappa Psi—an honorary band fraternity—and the Cardinal Key club.
Carter says he is adapting to some aspects of Laramie, Wyo., better than others. He loves the historic buildings and small-town atmosphere. He’s not so fond of the wind, however, and the snow is something he’s learning to appreciate. “The first day I was here that it snowed there was about six inches, and I just about had a heart attack,” he says. He loves snowmobiling but is not so sure about skiing, where you have to “balance on a stick.”
Carter does get to spend some time in the warmer climes. For example, when the UW Cowboy football team played the University of Texas, it was a good occasion to head south and connect with family. He does spend time in Texas during summer break, although being in band means fall comes early.
“I want to send a big thank you to the UW Alumni Association,” Carter says. “A huge part of the reason I am here is their strong support.”
