Cooley Finalist for UWs Spitaleri Award

Kadi Lee Cooley, from Powell, was among seven finalists for the Rosemarie Martha Spitaleri Award as the University of Wyoming's outstanding graduating woman.

The annual award, established in 1964, recognizes a student for exhibiting the finest leadership, academic integrity and citizenship qualities.

Sarah Maze, of Ranchester, was named the Rosemarie Martha Spitaleri Award recipient, while Anthony Farmer, from Cheyenne, received the Tobin Award, as the outstanding graduating man during a recent ceremony honoring all the nominees.

Cooley, who will graduate with a degree in physiology and minors in neuroscience, psychology and the Honors Program, says that her time at UW has prepared her for the road to becoming a doctor.

“My time here has prepared me for becoming a doctor and a leader in my community,” Cooley says. “I will miss seeing the Ben Franklin statue on my way to class and the wind whipping my face, but I will never miss what I gained from being a part of the UW community because it will always be with me.”

One of Cooley’s nominators says she is a leader and a scholar.

“Kadi has strong self-awareness, knowledge of personal limits and boundaries, time management skills and an exceptional ability to prioritize,” the nominator says. “Kadi has demonstrated that she is an exemplary student and leader when traveling to represent the university as well.”

Another nominator recognizes that Cooley will go above and beyond the average student.

“She is dead set on becoming a doctor. I quickly learned that Kadi’s intellect, curiosity, professionalism and talents go far beyond the typical above-average student,” the nominator says. “Kadi can take what would have been a fairly ambiguous task for a student, used critical thinking skills and created her own structures. Kadi is a leader, bright, calm, friendly, kind and focused."