Washakie County

Abby O'Donnell

In the small town of Ten Sleep, Wyo., University of Wyoming alumna Abby O'Donnell has a big presence. In addition to her role as the Wyoming sales manager and corporate branding specialist for Colorado-based ProCorp Images, O'Donnell is extremely active in the community, helping to organize and run the Ten Sleep Youth Rodeo, serving as an active member of the Ten Sleep Baptist Church and its vacation Bible school, contributing to the Washakie County Cowbelles events and the Ten Sleep Rodeo Association, participating in career day at the Ten Sleep High School, and helping cook and serve at the annual Ten Sleep Harvest Dinner.

She also assists with youth sports in the community. “My husband is the assistant high school basketball coach, and we try to stay involved in the school sports helping anywhere we can,” O'Donnell says.

O'Donnell graduated from UW in 2010 with her bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and applied economics. “The degree I selected was perfect for my career, even though I didn’t know it at the time,” she says. “I was able to stay engaged and involved in the college of business courses while at the same time learning about the practical side of agriculture.”

At ProCorp Images, O'Donnell partners with companies and organizations to provide promotional products, branded apparel, webstores and products for award programs. Her diverse client base is international and includes many from the agriculture and rodeo industries.

“My job requires me to run my own business—as much work as I put in, I get out,” O'Donnell says. “The university gave me the tools to stay organized, problem solve, think critically, and develop a plan and strategy to achieve my goals.”

O'Donnell and her husband run a small herd of cows, so she is also able to utilize the agriculture side of her education. “We are excited to raise our son around farming and ranching,” she says.

Originally from Castle Rock, Colo., O'Donnell found Laramie a fun hometown community with lots of activity. “I loved the smaller class sizes and the welcoming feel,” she says. “This was comforting as an incoming freshman.”

Alumni connections are a big benefit of UW, O'Donnell says. “This has helped me pursue business clients, select new hires, make new friends in new communities, and it provides a general sense of belonging.”

She recommends UW to potential students for many reasons. “First of all, Wyoming high school graduates have every financial opportunity available to attend a top-notch university for an extremely reasonable price,” O'Donnell says, adding that there are great resources to make sure students succeed, plus individual attention, diverse degree programs, cultural events, job placement assistance and state-of-the-art facilities.

Reflecting on what it means to be a UW Cowboy, O'Donnell says the term comes with a certain historical presence. Words that come to mind include strength, integrity, ethics, hard work, leadership, pride, courage and compassion, she says. “The University of Wyoming embraces these traits. In additional to a great education, UW nourishes these attributes creating a bond throughout students, alumni and communities, both on a professional and a personal basis. I am proud to be a Cowboy!”

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