Rooted in Generosity: The Impact of Giving
Since its founding, HSI has welcomed over 3,400 students, giving them the chance to discover their passions, set new goals, and build confidence. Our alumni go on to become educators, scientists, doctors, engineers, and leaders—strengthening Wyoming communities and beyond for generations.
“Receiving an HSI scholarship gave me more than access—it gave me confidence. Someone believed in my potential before I even fully understood it myself.” — Keira, HSI 2023 Scholar
This impact is only possible through the generosity of our alumni, parents, and friends.
State funding alone cannot cover the full depth of HSI’s programs. Your gift ensures
that students have access to scholarships, hands-on learning, mental health support,
and transformative experiences that would otherwise be out of reach.
With the ongoing support of alumni and friends in all fields, HSI has attained a level
of distinction achieved by only a handful of similar programs. We continue to reach for the "highest order of excellence" that the Summer High School
Institute founders envisioned forty years ago.
Ways Your Gifts Can Help
There are a variety of ways your donations can help HSI reach as many students as possible. Your gifts may be specifically directed toward any of these activities, or you may ask that your donation be directed toward the area of greatest need.
Field Trips
Each year, the program visits Fort Collins and Saratoga. In Fort Collins, students experience FortFun and white-water rafting, potentially for the first time. In Saratoga, students visit the hot springs and explore the town. Your gift helps us continue these cherished traditions.
Activity Fee Scholarships
HSI strives to be available for every student who wants to attend. We offer scholarships to those who need financial assistance with their activity fee to ensure they can experience what camp has to offer and not miss out on this opportunity.
Faculty Dinners
Engaging with faculty inside and outside the classroom is a key component of HSI. Each year, students have dinner with each of their faculty outside of the classroom to let them engage with their faculty in another setting that they may not be used to.
Class Excursions
Classes are designed to take students outside of the classroom - whether that's down to Denver, to downtown Laramie, and anywhere in between. These excursions give scholars a chance to engage with materials in a different way than just in the classroom.
Mental Health Support
We strive to meet students where they are at during camp, and sometimes that involves ensuring they have professional mental health services available. These opportunities give students another place to feel supported and seen by the adults in their lives.
Emergency Fund
We use this fund to help students meet their basic needs, such as new shoes, hygiene items, dorm necessities, etc. This pool gives us the opportunity to allow all students to enjoy HSI in comfort and stability.
Types of Gifts
Ways of giving include gifts of stocks and securities, planned gifts, employer matching gifts, and honorary and memorial gifts. It is also possible to give online through the University of Wyoming Foundations secure website. You will need to select HSI as your Giving Priority when filling out the form.
Furthermore, thanks to the generosity of the Wyoming Legislature, gifts greater than $50,000 - a one-time contribution or pledged over as many as five years - can be matched dollar to dollar, doubling the impact of your donation and establishing a lasting endowment that will enhance the work of students far into the future.
If you would like to discuss a possible gift to the UW Summer High School Institute, please call the HSI office at (307) 766-3005.
The Impact of Your Gift
Yearly, students receive scholarships to attend HSI. These scholarships enabled them to attend and have life changing experiences. Check out this video to learn more from a couple students.
