John Evezich Scholarship Recipient Begins UW with Degree, Determination

Many University of Wyoming students begin as undeclared freshmen, testing the waters in a few interest areas before deciding which field to pursue. Hailey Moss—recipient of the John Evezich Memorial Scholarship—is not that kind of student.

Awarded by the Alumni Association, the John Evezich Memorial Scholarship Fund supports a high-achieving Wyoming high school graduate choosing to pursue a degree that is relevant to Wyoming’s economy. The fund pays a recipient $1,750 a semester for up to eight consecutive semesters.

“It’s been a real blessing in my life,” Moss says. “It has helped me greatly to pay for my education, and it’s opened a lot of doors for making connections and meeting people I wouldn’t have without this scholarship.”

Moss graduated from Douglas High School in May 2019. She graduated the same month from Eastern Wyoming College with an associate degree.

Throughout high school, Moss enrolled in as many concurrent enrollment courses as she could, taking advantage of partnerships between her high school and community colleges around the state. During her junior year, it became clear that a two-year degree was in sight.

“I was just a few classes away from getting my associate degree, so I took some extra online classes,” Moss says. “It made for a really busy junior and senior year of high school. But my family has always been a busy family, so I jumped in and got it done.”

Adding to this jam-packed schedule were a job, band practice, involvement with school organizations and other community activities. Moss also gave music lessons to younger students.

Her parents, UW alumni themselves, instilled a love of the university in their daughter, even coming down to Laramie for UW Cowboys games.

“There’s always been a running joke in my family,” Moss says. “My parents told me since I was little I could go to any school I wanted—as long as it was in Laramie.”

With a two-year degree under her belt, Moss is now aiming for an outdoor recreation and tourism management degree. The degree is one of UW’s newest programs and prepares students to work in the state’s second largest industry, tourism.

“My dream is to run a museum,” Moss says. “I’ve loved history since I was little. I’m really into Western history, so I would like to stay in the western United States but preferably my home state of Wyoming where I can share its history with others.”

Moss says the program she is in has been monumentally helpful, connecting her with internships and connections in the field.

“I love UW,” she says. “It’s a great school. I’m very blessed by all the people that I’ve met and am excited by all of the opportunities available to me.”

Moss says she is considering a master’s degree and might pursue one following her graduation next year.

Per academic year, approximately $232,000 in alumni scholarships 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.