The Bill Daniels Ethical Leadership Award was conceived in the fall of 2016 at an early-morning meeting at Turtle Rock Café in Laramie. Meeting participants from the UW College of Business and the Wyoming Business Alliance/Heritage Foundation determined it was time for Wyoming to honor citizens who embody the ethical leadership principles exhibited by Bill Daniels, a cable-television pioneer who started his professional career in Casper, Wyoming. The meeting participants took their concept to the Daniels Fund as well as their respective organizations and in a matter of a few short weeks, the Bill Daniels Ethical Leadership Award became a reality.
2017 - Dave Bonner was selected as the inaugural recipient of the ethical leadership award. Dave was recognized for serving as president of the University of Wyoming’s Board of Trustees, his 50 years as a highly-regarded newspaper publisher, and for his selfless service as a legislator and state elected official.
2018 - Attorney Greg Dyekman was the 2018 recipient of the Bill Daniels Ethical Leadership Award. The award was presented in November at the Wyoming Leaders and Legends Banquet at Little America in Cheyenne. The evening was the centerpiece of the annual Governor’s Business Forum and attracted Wyoming’s top business, government, education, and civic leaders. Greg Dyekman (center left) is pictured with former Governor Matt Mead, Daniels Fund Senior Vice President Bo Peretto, and others. In 2018, the award became a biennial event.
2020 - Tucker Fagan became the third recipient of the Bill Daniels Ethical Leadership Award for the state of Wyoming. While the original plan was to recognize Mr. Fagan at the November 2020 Governor’s Business Forum, his presentation was postponed to a 2021 Wyoming Legislative Reception due to COVID-related issues.
In 2017, the UW College of Business partnered with the organizers of the WESPYS to create the Wyoming Athletics Department Ethical Leadership Award, an award that recognizes a University of Wyoming team, coach, player, donor, and/or volunteer who embodies the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Principles on the field, in the classroom, and/or in the community. Recipients are selected by the UW Athletics Department in cooperation with the UW College of Business.
2017 - Chris and Barbara Gunther were the 2017 recipients. Chris and Brabara Gunther have served as mentors and academic volunteers to dozens of UW student athletes over the years.
2018 - Dr. Janet Constantinides was the 2018 recipient. Dr. Constantinides was recognized for her service as a professor, faculty athletics rep, interim athletic director, and now in her retirement, as an academic mentor.
2019 - Coach Joe Legerski was the 2019 recipient. Coach Legerski did a lot more than win basketball games. He worked tirelessly with ranchers, politicians, nonprofit organizations, the energy industry, tourism professions, donors, and University personnel in a way that honored and reflected the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Principles – all in an effort to build a better Wyoming.
The NASBA Student Center for the Public Trust (StudentCPT) provides an interactive environment where ethical business behaviors and ideas can flourish on college campuses. Each school year, the StudentCPT will honor one student and one faculty member on each chapter’s campus who positively impacts the school by displaying strong, ethical leadership.
Campus Being a Difference Award recipients do not simply aspire to make a difference – they are being a difference on their campus and in other endeavors by embodying the best in ethical behavior, integrity, and leadership.
Student Recipients
Teacher Recipients
Created in 2013, the Wyoming Business Hall of Fame recognizes business and industry leaders who have demonstrated substantial business merit while making a virtuous impact on their community. The Wyoming Business Hall of Fame Award is a joint venture among the Daniels Fund, the University of Wyoming College of Business, Wyoming Business Council, and the Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation.
2019
Contemporary/Visionary – Kelly Lockhart
Legacy – Howard Woody
Legacy – Neil “Mick” McMurry (Casper)
Contemporary – Mike Wandler
2021
Legacy – Dr. Ray Fleming Dinneen
Legacy – Senator Mike Enzi
The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics honors organizations whose leaders demonstrate a high level of personal character; ensure that the organization's practices meet the highest standards of ethics; and consequently generate trust with its customers and the community.
2020
Business Category - Elder Construction, Windsor, CO
Business Category - Exodus Moving and Storage, Fort Collins, CO
Business Category - Neenan Archistruction, Fort Collins, CO
Nonprofit Category - The Matthews House, Fort Collins, CO
2021
Business Category - Blue Federal Credit Union, Cheyenne, WY
Business Category - Coffey Engineering and Surveying, Laramie, WY
Business Category - Spine and Injury Clinic of Laramie, Laramie, WY
Nonprofit Category - Animal Friends Alliance, Fort Collins, CO
Finalists competing in the John P. Ellbogen $50k Entrepreneurship Competition may be considered for the Ethical Startup Award by submitting a strategy for creating an ethical culture within their organization. The proposal incorporates the use of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Principles as the centerpiece of the plan.
2018
GROWyoming
2019
Torch Creamery
2020
Build Mothers, Build the World
2021
LifeGlass
2022
Carving the Future
Management & Marketing
1000 E. University Ave.
Department 3275
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307) 760-7860
Email: knoble@uwyo.edu
