School of Energy Resources Celebrates Class of 2026 at Spring Commencement Ceremony

Published May 15, 2026

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The School of Energy Resources (SER) is set to celebrate the graduation of seventeen students in the spring 2026 commencement ceremony at the University of Wyoming on May 16.

 

Festivities will acknowledge the achievements of students completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Energy Resource Management and Development (ERMD), a minor in Energy Resource Management (ERM), as well as students who have earned a certificate in Land Administration.

 

Created in 2012, the ERMD bachelor’s degree is an interdisciplinary program designed to meet the needs of the energy industry and to prepare students for careers in all types of energy development while addressing environmental considerations and working collaboratively with energy lawyers and policymakers.

 

The program offers two concentrations for specialization: professional land management (PLM) and energy and environmental systems (EES).

 

Energy and Environmental Systems:

Darren Ferguson of Broomfield, Colo., started his academic career at UW in Computer Science and Chemistry and found his way to SER. He is graduating with a B.S. in ERMD with a concentration in EES and is particularly interested in oil and gas operations. While at UW, he joined the Sigma Nu Fraternity, Epsilon Delta Chapter. A dual citizen with the U.S. and the United Kingdom, he is excited to start an international career in the energy sector.
Harper Pollock of Casper, Wyo., is graduating with a B.S. in ERMD with a concentration in EES and a certificate in Land Administration. Pollock has a deep interest in both the Wyoming agricultural and energy sectors. During her academic experience, Pollock gained practical and professional experience through an internship with Idaho National Laboratory and was selected for a prestigious internship with the Wyoming Office of the Governor in starting in the spring of 2025. She also served as an ASUW senator and was involved in both the Student Chapter for Energy Resources (SCER) and the Future Farmers of America (FFA). For her exceptional academic work, Pollock was nominated for the Tobin Memorial and Rosemarie Martha Spitaleri Awards, UW’s prestigious recognition for outstanding graduates.

Professional Land Management:

Ryan Fogg of Carpenter, Wyo., is the first student to graduate in the 3+3 QuickStart program, which allows UW students to earn a bachelor’s degree in ERMD through SER and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) through the UW College of Law. Fogg recently completed his first year of law school, which concurrently served as his senior year, and has satisfied his B.S. requirements.

During the initial three years of his education at UW, Fogg was very active in the SER offerings and gained valuable practical experiences through internships with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and Hess. As a J.D. candidate, he will now complete two more years at the College of Law and will work as a contract landman with Pacer Energy. Fogg also recently passed the Registered Landman (RL) Certification Exam through the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL).

David Meraz Ordonez of Cheyenne, Wyo., is graduating with a B.S. in ERMD with a concentration in PLM.  A bilingual student in English and Spanish, he gained valuable experience interning with Tallgrass Energy as a right-of-way intern and with Pacer Energy as a land intern. Meraz Ordonez was deeply involved in SCER and established himself as a leader among his peers. During the 25-26 academic year, he served as President of SCER and helped to organize more than 15 events, all open to any UW student. Notable among them were a Nuclear Energy Panel hosted in partnership with ASUW, a career-focused panel featuring professionals from the Anschutz Company, a two-day event with DISA Technologies and the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (WOGCC), and assistance in planning the Rocky Mountain Land and Resource Management Conference.

Leveraging his skills and networking abilities, he also represented SER at multiple high-profile events, including the AAPL Annual meeting and the NAPE Expo. Meraz Ordonez passed the RL Certification Exam with the AAPL and will apply his knowledge as a landman consultant after graduation. Meraz Ordonez also earned the coveted nomination as AAPL Outstanding Graduate at the University of Wyoming and, when competing nationally for the highest honor, came in as the runner-up among all AAPL-accredited programs’ undergraduate students.

Cassidy Lolley of Littleton, Colo., is set to graduate Cum Laude in the summerwith a B.S. in ERMD with a concentration in PLM. Throughout her education, she worked as a research assistant at SER, contributing to projects on carbon capture and storage, and gained experience as a land intern at Water & Environmental Technologies (WET). She was also very involved with the student group SCER, serving as an officer for all four years of her tenure at SER.
Dylan Salgado of Tucson, Ariz., is graduating in the summer with a B.S. in ERMD with a concentration in PLM. Salgado served as an officer for SCER during his senior year as Chief Financial Officer. Salgado was ever-present at the site visit opportunities offered by SER, including a proposed drill site, an active drill site, and a visit to the WOGCC. After completing his degree, he will begin working at Hoover & Stacy, Inc.
Keaton Wood of Diamondville, Wyo., is graduating in the summer with a B.S. in ERMD with a concentration in PLM. During his time at UW, he explored the land side of the coal industry, serving as an engineering intern at Kemmerer Operations for three years, where he conducted environmental and site surveys using drone technology, and assisted in maintaining compliance with Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) safety regulations.

Energy Resources Management Minor and Land Administration Certificate

Seven students expanding their education and complementing their degree with a minor in Energy Resource Management through SER include David Gordon of Gillette, Wyo., majoring in Astronomy & Astrophysics; Matalin Mohr of Casper, Wyo., majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Honors; Alexander Nichols of Laramie, Wyo., majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Honors; Gabriel Russell of Torrington, Wyo., majoring in Civil and Architectural Engineering; Kyler Russow of Laramie, Wyo., majoring in Marketing, Management & Professional Sales; Gracilynn Ward of Dubois, Wyo., majoring in Political Sciences; and Tristan Troftgruben of Newcastle, Wyo., majoring in Finance with an additional minor in Psychology.

 

Included in the SER program offerings are multiple certificates in Land Administration, Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage, Nuclear Energy Science, and Subsurface Energy. Certificates are designed for working professionals or UW students seeking credentials to augment their education.

 

This semester, students Michael Johnsen of Conifer, Colo., Blake Houser of Fairplay, Md., and Byson Taylor of Cheyenne, Wyo., will receive a certificate in Land Administration. Houser will earn his certificate in addition to dual degrees in Environment and Natural Resources and Environmental Systems Science, and a minor in Farm and Ranch Management. Taylor will be receiving his certificate alongside a B.S. degree in Economics.

 

“This year’s commencement is truly special, marked by the graduation of our first ‘3+3’ student,” says SER Senior Assistant Dean Kami Danaei. “With a record number of students from various colleges now adding an energy minor, it is clear that energy expertise has become an essential asset for many career paths. We are excited to see our graduates bring this vital knowledge into the workforce.”

 

Details on the commencement ceremony can be found at:  https://www.uwyo.edu/commencement/index.html. 

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