Education is the Weapon

A growing momentum is boosting support for Native American students and programs. 

In front of Washakie Dining Center on the Laramie campus, clearly visible from Grand Avenue, sits the iconic statue “Battle of Two Hearts,” featuring a proud Chief Washakie. The Shoshone leader’s famed quote sits on the plaque below: “I fought to keep our land, our water, and our hunting grounds — today, education is the weapon my people will need to protect them.”

Over recent decades, the University of Wyoming has worked tirelessly to improve its partnerships, communication and recruitment of students from Wyoming’s Wind River Indian Reservation, which is home to the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho tribes. It encompasses 2.2 million acres, making it the seventh-largest reservation in the country.

“There’s a real desire to create a pathway for Native American students to pursue higher education at UW,” says John Stark, CEO and president of the UW Foundation. “We’ve added a number of funds in recent years, including scholarships, summer student enrichment funds and programs designed to help students feel a sense of community and remain successful once they’re here. I sense some real momentum around support for Native American students, particularly those who come from the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.”

Part of that success is due to leadership from UW presidents and the state matching program, which allows donors to double their impact.

These efforts are sorely needed. According to 2021 census data, among American Indian or Alaskan Native residents aged 25 or over, only 15.4 percent hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, which is less than half the national rate of 32.9 percent.

UW Foundation Director of Development Lucus Hansen focuses much of his time and effort on building funds to support Native American students. Many of these students have unique needs, Hansen says. For example, it can be hard to leave their tight-knit families and communities, so providing a sense of community and support is key. In addition, some students are nontraditional, and many are first-generation.

As a first-generation student himself, Hansen struggled at several colleges before finding the support he needed at UW.

“First-generation students cannot imagine opportunities that they’ve never seen. We can’t picture things that we don’t know exist,” he says. “UW has a lot of alumni and donors who have incredible student success stories and want to give back and foster those opportunities for other students.”

Funds cover all areas of student success — from scholarships to mentoring. Emphasis also is placed on making the transfer process easy.

“A lot of students need to stay close to home, so they attend Central Wyoming College for their first two years,” Hansen says. “We love that. But we also know that the communities need the next generation of leaders to have skills that require students to continue their education — things such as pharmacists, lawyers and engineers. UW is a great place to accomplish your goals and dreams.”

The many scholarships that support Native students at UW are aimed at providing accessibility and opportunity, easing students’ financial burdens so they can focus on their studies and families.

One of the newest offerings established by donors is a peer-to-peer mentoring program that pairs incoming Native students with more experienced mentor students. Both mentee and mentor receive financial support, and the program encourages students to meet and attend events, fostering a sense of community and belonging.

In addition to amazing donors, Hansen credits campus leadership: “I’m very proud of our Native American leaders here at UW and how they are catering their resources and support directly to the tribes in a way that is really impactful.”

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Philanthropic Funds Supporting Native American Students

UW is home to numerous funds, centers and programs that support Native American scholars as well as connections between UW and tribal nations. These offerings are generously supported by UW donors.

Native American Education, Research and Cultural Center: The center serves as a place of community, support, engagement and learning all while assisting students in maintaining their cultural identity. The center houses support staff, the Native American and Indigenous Studies Program, and the High Plains American Indian Research Institute. It also offers internships, part-time employment, student organizations, such as Keepers of the Fire and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, leadership opportunities, and a new peer-to-peer mentoring program. The facility provides a variety of spaces, including a computer lab, library, classroom, kitchen, study areas and a lounge.

High Plains American Indian Research Institute: HPAIRI facilitates research partnerships between tribal nations and the world-class researchers at UW. Its goals are to strengthen and facilitate relationships between UW and Wyoming-based tribal nations, to empower tribal citizens through direct participation in nation-building, to educate the UW community and the state regarding opportunities to develop positive relationships with tribal nations, to support efforts for Native American research and data sovereignty, and to facilitate collaborations and outreach between tribal entities and UW.

Native American Summer Institute: This six-day residential summer program introduces Native American high school students to UW, where they participate in the full college experience by staying in the residence halls, attending academic workshops and taking part in Native American cultural activities to promote and maintain their cultural identity.

Northern Arapaho Endowment Fund: This first scholarship program for Native students was created in 1987 when the Northern Arapaho Tribe gave UW a gift matched by the state. The endowment produces $115,000 a year in scholarship support.

Chief Washakie Memorial Endowment Fund: This endowment, established in 2003 with support from the state matching program, promotes cooperation between UW and the Wind River Reservation — educating graduates who are grounded in their own culture and also are prepared with the social, civic and work skills they need to live and contribute to a multicultural global society.

Zedora Teton Enos Excellence Fund: The Chief Washakie Foundation established this excellence fund in service of education and entrepreneurship for the tribes of the Wind River Indian Reservation. It is named in honor of Zedora Teton Enos, an elder of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and an exemplary entrepreneur.

Northern Arapaho Sky People Higher Education Scholarship: Established in 2019 by Sky People Higher Education, this scholarship supports Northern Arapaho students at UW.

The Frank and Cynthia McCarthy Fund: Established in 1993 by the McCarthys, this fund not only supports scholarships but also can be used for other needs of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Program.

The Robert W. Winner Memorial Scholarship: Robert “Bob” Winner’s wife, Cherie Winner, endowed this scholarship in his name in 1995.

John and Ada Thorpe Scholarship: Donors Louise T. and John M. Crissman, the Thorpes’ daughter and son-in-law, established this scholarship for Native American students in 2000.

Winifred Snyder Yaap Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship was created in 2007 by Winifred’s brother, Douglas Snyder.

Richard and Judith Agee Scholarship for Native American Students: Established in 2003, this scholarship gives first preference to students in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

William G. Kruggel Endowment: This year, UW received a major gift of $500,000 from the estate of the late William “Bill” Kruggel to provide financial support to eligible Native American students enrolled in any discipline at UW.

Additional scholarships that support Native American students include the Gary Glascock Scholarship, the Jim and Beverly Young Scholarship in Engineering, the Marian Espach Cordiner Scholarship Fund, the ARCO/American Indians in Geology, the Nora Ivers President’s Endowed Scholarship, the Betty Nalls Freedman Native American Scholarship for Social Work, the Richard Baldes Native American Excellence Fund in Biodiversity Conservation, the Zbigniew S. Rozbick Scholarship for Native American Students, the Fred and Jeanie Staehr Scholarship, the William R. Barnhart Scholarship for Native American Students, the Melba Sessions Martin and James Donald Martin Scholarship for Native American Students, the L. Keith and Beverly Currey Memorial Excellence Fund, the Native American Students in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Sustainability Fund, and the Verdall Dodge Native American Education, Research and Cultural Center Student Success Fund.