‘UW in Your Community’ Event Oct. 9 in Torrington

Members of the public will learn about the University of Wyoming’s collaborative efforts with Eastern Wyoming College (EWC), and UW alumni will connect with their alma mater during a “UW in Your Community” gathering Monday, Oct. 9, in Torrington.

The public is invited to the event from 5-7 p.m. at EWC’s Career and Technical Education Center. Free appetizers will be served, and there will be a cash bar.

UW President Ed Seidel and EWC President Jeffry Hawes will be in attendance and speak during a brief program, highlighting collaborative efforts to prepare students for the modern economy and boost entrepreneurism and the state’s economy.

Among the Goshen County collaborations to be highlighted are programs in precision agriculture, K-12 teacher retention, business ethics and entrepreneurship. They include:

-- An update on a precision agriculture program being developed jointly by UW and EWC from Steve Paisley, director of UW’s James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center.

-- A presentation by Colby Gull, managing director of  UW’s Trustees Education Initiative, about the Wyoming Teacher-Mentor Corps’ work with Goshen County School District 1.

-- EWC Professor Ellen Creagar will discuss the success of EWC students in the UW College of Business’ Wyoming Collegiate Business Ethics Case Competition.

-- A presentation by EWC student Carly Keller and UW student Jared Clapper, who have won multiple entrepreneurship competitions for their business, BAST Manufacturing, which uses hemp to create air filters for tractors, HVAC units and other devices.

Other current UW students from Goshen County -- Bree Coxbill and Kenzie Vaughn -- also will share their experiences at UW.

During the day before the Oct. 9 evening event, Seidel, a UW faculty member and the current UW students from Goshen County are scheduled to speak to students during an assembly at Torrington High School.

The Goshen County gathering is the 11th in a series of “UW in Your Community” gatherings planned around the state.

“This will be a great opportunity for community members to interact with President Seidel, President Hawes and others from UW and EWC; learn about exciting initiatives for students and the state; and see some of the collaborative work UW is doing with local partners,” says Chad Baldwin, UW’s associate vice president for marketing and communications. “UW alumni and everyone across Goshen County are invited for what will be a fun evening.”