Washakie County Celebrates UW Outreach, UW Extension Learning Center

A longtime goal to create a University of Wyoming Extension learning center in Worland is a reality.

The Washakie County Commission, University of Wyoming Extension and the UW Outreach School have joined forces to offer UW classes and the Outreach Video Network (OVN) in the extension office in the Worland Community Center Complex.

An open house is scheduled Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the extension office, located at 1200 Culbertson, Suite G.

“UW Outreach is providing the classes and the technology, and the extension office is providing a home for us,” says Beverly Bell, academic coordinator for the Northwest Region of the Outreach School. “It is the perfect partnership to provide educational opportunities to residents of Washakie County as well as reaching to nearby Hot Springs and Big Horn county towns.”

A UW Extension learning center was a goal of Jim Gill, former Washakie County extension educator.

“It was always the ultimate goal to have a Washakie County learning center, and bring the compressed video and that type of technology to the area to enhance the educational opportunities for residents in the county,” Gill says.

The process started with having a new extension office.

“We were fortunate enough the county commissioners, back in 2010, shared our vision for a new office with this kind of concept in mind,” he says.

He also credits Washakie County citizens.

“The taxpayers of Washakie County deserve a lot of the credit because they supported it through the 1 percent initiative, the first one that passed that helped build the new extension office,” Gill says.

Gill also cites the extension office staff members -- educators Phyllis Lewis and Amber Armajo, and the late Sharon Kelly, office associate.

“This is a pretty big deal for our office and for anyone who wants to take advantage of learning opportunities in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs,” Lewis says.

UW’s Outreach School offers classes online, over the phone, or through the OVN. UW offers 30 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through distance technology.