President's Message: A Testament to Wyoming’s Culture of Opportunity, Merit and Excellence

 

By Ed Seidel

 

Since University of Wyoming alumnus Josh Allen was crowned the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in February, the university hasn’t been just celebrating the triumph of one of its own. We also are reaffirming a powerful truth: Excellence is built where opportunity is given, merit is recognized and hard work is rewarded.

Josh’s journey from an overlooked high school recruit to the pinnacle of professional football is well known. UW was proud to highlight the university’s role in his incredible success story with a 30-second video ad that was seen by millions of people in key student recruitment markets around the country during the Super Bowl.

But Josh’s story is not just a football story. It’s a Wyoming story. It’s a story about what happens when students — whether in athletics or academics — are given the chance to prove themselves based on merit.

In Josh’s case, we were the only university in the country that saw what others missed —  a young man with potential, relentless determination and a tremendous work ethic. The same tenacity that made him a Cowboy football legend carried him to the Buffalo Bills, where he has become one of the most electrifying players in the NFL, culminating in the MVP honor.

In fact, UW has been shaping MVPs — leaders, innovators and changemakers — in every field for many years. In this issue of UWyo Magazine, you can read about many of these accomplished alumni — and how the university helped put them on the road to success.

 

Wyoming has always been a place where raw potential is recognized — where those willing to put in the work are rewarded. UW is a university that doesn’t cater to just privileged or the predetermined stars — it lifts up those with ambition and gives them the tools to thrive. Here, success is not about where you come from, but about what you’re willing to do to achieve it. The state’s only four-year university is small enough to know its students by name and bold enough to make an impact on the world stage.

In a time when personal responsibility, perseverance and self-reliance are sometimes undervalued, Wyoming stands as a testament to the principles of hard work and achievement. Discipline, commitment and accountability — values that are embodied by Wyoming and the Code of the West — are embedded in the university’s culture and reflected in the success of its graduates.

Josh’s success should remind prospective students and families that Wyoming isn’t just a place to attend college — it’s a place where you can launch a legacy. It’s a place where talent, drive and dedication are cultivated and celebrated. It’s a place where those who rise to the challenge and demonstrate their worth are recognized and rewarded. Josh is living proof.

Beyond athletics, UW stands as a beacon of academic excellence. Wyoming faces unique challenges — including geographic isolation and a relatively small population — but it thrives by fostering innovation, recognizing merit and encouraging academic rigor. From groundbreaking research in energy and natural resources to leading advancements in agricultural sciences and business, UW students and faculty excel on the national and global stage.

Our university cultivates a culture of achievement that extends far beyond the football field. UW champions a well-rounded educational experience. Our graduates don’t just leave with a degree — they leave prepared to lead in their chosen fields.

When Josh steps onto the field, now as an official MVP, he carries Wyoming with him — its work ethic, its resilience, its recognition of merit and its commitment to excellence. And he serves as proof that at UW, opportunities aren’t just handed out to the select few. They’re earned by those ready to embrace the challenge.

As our video ad emphasizes, UW truly is the place where underdogs come to shine — and where real MVPs are forged. And it’s why we continue to proudly proclaim that The World Needs More Cowboys.

 

Ed Seidel is the 28th president of the University of Wyoming.