Foundations have made a lasting impact on Wyoming’s students and the colleges, programs, and facilities that support them. Student by student, foundation-supported scholarships have built a wealth of human capital. Foundations give because it is part of their core mission—to make the world a better place.
The Mellon Foundation seeks to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking where ideas and imagination can thrive. Its $850,000 grant to UW and the Department of English established the program “Re-Storying the West for a Transformative Future: We Are Wyoming.” This program records the contemporary stories of everyday Wyomingites and creates “a living public archive” of Wyoming stories. It also launched a Ph.D. in public humanities, providing subgrants to faculty and creating graduate assistantships and internships.
A major gift from the John P. Ellbogen Foundation created the John P. Ellbogen Pathways from Prison Program Support Fund—two forces for good coming together to more than double their impact. The Wyoming Pathways from Prison Program provides high-quality college courses to incarcerated women and men through generous volunteer support provided by UW faculty, staff, and students. The Ellbogen Foundation creates change for the benefit of the people of the state of Wyoming through its support of science, education, and charity. Together, they give people a second chance.
Established at UW in 2021 by a major gift from the Tomé Foundation, the Tomé Scholars
to Fellows Program supports some of the nation’s most distinguished students as they
seek solutions to some of our most complex environmental challenges. Students of exceptional
talent and exemplary skills receive a full-ride four-year scholarship and experiential
learning opportunities. The foundation further supported the program this past year,
adding more scholars and the position of Tomé College Relations Representative and
Recruiter. The foundation is the work of Carol and Ramon Tomé, both of whom are successful
UW alums.
A grant by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust of nearly $1.6 million to the UW College of Health Sciences will train Wyoming health care professionals on state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment as part of a statewide ultrasound initiative. The larger initiative includes nearly $13.9 million to help Wyoming hospitals and health centers purchase ultrasound imaging devices and to boost sonography and point-of-care ultrasound training opportunities across the state. It will enhance patient care by both broadening the scope of training in specialty ultrasound and bolstering access to point-of-care ultrasound services, as well as improving quality.