“Service that Advances the Goals of Access and Diversity” – WyASFAA did it better than any other association this past year and the folks at NASFAA recognized them with a 2005 NASFAA State Award. The announcement was made at NASFAA’s annual conference in New York City this past July. A display banner, to permanently reside with the state association, and a $500 check were presented.

What did they do? All eight Wyoming public post-secondary institutions formed a unique collaboration and wrote a proposal to the Denver-based Daniels Fund. The foundation approved funding of $110,000 for grants to a cohort of students who would enter Wyoming community colleges in the 2004 fall semester. Each participant within the targeted group, comprised of GED students, foster children, and adult students entering college after time spent in the 'real world', receive a minimum annual stipend of $1,100 for up to six years. This is to complete both their associate's degree at one of the community colleges and their bachelor's degree from the University of Wyoming. The eight Wyoming institutions then collaborated on a second proposal and are receiving an additional $150,000 from the Daniels Fund for students entering a Wyoming community college fall semester, 2005.

Editors note: On behalf of RMASFAA, congratulations to all our WyASFAA colleagues for your ingenuity, team spirit, and positive actions that resulted in greatly advancing access and diversity. You’ve made a positive difference in many lives!