Scholarship Recipient: Ashlyn Bower

Like many University of Wyoming students, Ashlyn Bower hopes to use the skills and knowledge gained at UW to positively impact her community and state.

A scholarship from the UW Alumni Association is helping her achieve those dreams.

The Wyoming High School Seniors of UWAA Members Scholarship is awarded to the child of at least one parent or guardian who is an active member of the alumni association. The award is paid out each semester over four year and comes with a lifetime membership to UWAA. It is one of many UWAA scholarships that recognize outstanding students.

Growing up in Cody, Wyo., Bower never hesitated to take part in athletic, academic or extracurricular endeavors. A member of Cody High School’s basketball, volleyball and track teams, Bower also found time to participate in National Honor Society and the school’s anti-drug program Change Attitudes Now, or CAN.

“I was pretty involved and busy throughout the year,” she says.

Bower was also part of the Wyoming High School Activities Association student advisory council.

“That was neat, because I got to meet with kids across the state and talk about leadership, how we want to make our schools better and encourage sportsmanship,” she says.

Bower has brought that diligence and work ethic to UW, where she is pursuing a degree in the College of Health Sciences. Now a sophomore, Bower has yet to declare a specific major but hopes to become either a physician’s assistant or pharmacist. Either profession, Bower says, would let her use her skills to help others.

“I just really enjoy helping others,” she says.

Although both of her parents are UW alumni, Bower says she considered other universities before making the move to Laramie.

“I think what drew me to the University of Wyoming was the campus itself,” she says. “It’s just so pretty, and everyone was so nice and helpful. I just felt at home when I did my visit here.”

The Wyoming High School Seniors of UWAA Members Scholarship—alongside the Hathaway Scholarship and low in-state tuition—allows Bower to focus on what matters: gaining the knowledge and learning that skills that will let her give back to her community.

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 2019-2020 UWAA scholarship recipients.