Giving Day: Lighting the way to Success for Every Student

 

The University of Wyoming is one of a kind. I know this because for the past two years I have witnessed the unique way Wyoming gives. We give our time, resources, and skills to uplift one another and to ensure every student has the option to say yes when opportunities arise. In many ways, UW has lit the path for my own future and made it easy for me to seize the day.

One of the most prominent ways UW makes this possible is through Giving Day. I first felt the power of Giving Day my freshman year. I was involved with Spanish Club, a relatively small group of students on campus devoted to learning more about Hispanic culture and developing their language abilities. Since we were a smaller club with less visibility, I was not sure how much support we would receive with our Giving Day campaign. However, I was quickly proven wrong. That year, we raised over $500, which—for our first Giving Day campaign—was a tremendous feat. Through generous donors, family, faculty, and friends, Spanish Club was able to host events and to continue to grow its roots in Laramie.

Giving Day largely supports hands-on learning opportunities where students and community members alike are able not only to learn more about their interests but also to experience them first hand. Giving Day allowed us to spread more awareness on Spanish traditions and to use these funds to support locally owned stores such as La Morenita through patronage. Giving Day creates a ripple effect where smaller clubs can create large-scale change. It not only makes an impact on individual students’ lives but they in turn are able to go out and support other students to further strengthen this close UW network.

Additionally, Giving Day elevates larger campaigns who have been creating large-scale change for decades. In my experience, I have benefitted from the endless support given to me by the Honors College. With funding from Giving Day, Honors has supported mine and countless others’ educational careers in so many ways. Due to this financial aid, I was able to study abroad In Santiago, Chile, for a semester and to conduct research for my capstone. Also, I can apply for other opportunities to go back and further my research. Through their courses, I am provided with experiential learning opportunities that enable me to witness my studies play out in real time. These opportunities would not be possible without the kindness and generosity of donors supporting UW students.

I owe so much to Giving Day and the impact it has made on my academic career. I have been given the gift of new experiences through cultural immersion, languages, and places. Above all, I have been given the gift of education. The impact of donor support during Giving Day can manifest in many forms. They provide students with the opportunity to learn and grow without financial constraints. We have so many resources that are made possible through Giving Day such as the very scholarships that make education here at UW so accessible. These scholarships are what enabled me to attend UW in the first place. Being a student is undoubtedly stressful, but UW provides us with a platform to succeed due to a community who advocates for us to attend, be great, and do great things. I hope everyone participates by giving during this upcoming Giving Day because it truly lights the way for every student.