Wolf Star Duran

Moving Forward, Giving Back

The university is a better place because of students like Wolf Star Duran, a current recipient of the Native American Scholarship. This four-year scholarship, fully funded by alumni and friends of the UW Alumni Association, is given to two students every year.

Originally from Alaska, Duran is a member of the Northern Arapaho tribe and hails from the Wind River Indian Reservation.

A first-generation college student, Duran is pursuing a degree in Native American and indigenous studies.

“I want to go back to my community and use my education to aid the people within the community,” Duran says. “I just finished my first year at UW, so I’m still thinking about it, but I’m definitely gravitating toward involvement with tribal court, or the Wyoming Legislature or our tribal council.”

Returning to UW this fall as a sophomore, Duran spends a significant chunk of her time on campus at the Native American Education, Research and Cultural Center.

Duran says she finds community there, where Native students can collaborate and support one another as they would at home.

“If you’re coming from a totally different place, it’s a culture shock,” Duran says. “And not knowing people, it would be a little hard to establish your place and create relationships and connections throughout the college. Without that support, I would definitely feel more homesick.”

Duran stays busy at UW, promoting Indigenous Peoples’ Day as an alternative to Columbus Day, staying involved with UW’s Native student group Keepers of the Fire, and visiting the State Legislature during its latest general session. She also had an immersive experience with the university’s Alternative Spring Break program, traveling to Las Cruces, N.M., to learn about immigration issues firsthand.

“It makes you want to advocate for people who don’t have a voice,” Duran says. “UW has provided me opportunities to fuel my passion for policy.”

Duran says it meant a lot to be recognized and encouraged by UW’s alumni with the Native American Scholarship.

“I was definitely very happy and excited, because I’m heavily scholarship-based,” she says. “Scholarships are my main way to pay for my education.”

Per academic year, approximately $232,000 is disbursed to nearly  130 students, with awards ranging from one to four years. See uwyo.edu/alumni/scholarships for the full list of 2019-20 UWAA scholarship recipients.