At age 23, Chavely Cruz Cárdenas left her home in Havana, Cuba, to pursue post-secondary education in the U.S. She dreamed of attending medical school and becoming a doctor.
“In 2017, I left my hometown and so much more than that, I left my family and friends,” she recalls. “I left with just a small backpack and a hat full of dreams. After a few months in Florida, she headed west to start a new life in Wyoming, where her grandparents lived.
In May 2024, Cruz Cárdenas graduated from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a 4.0 GPA. As the student speaker at her commencement ceremony on the UW – Casper campus, she received a standing ovation. Many were moved to tears by her story of navigating the challenges of immigrating to the U.S. while excelling as a student researcher, overcoming countless obstacles to thrive in a new country.
Thirty-five University of Wyoming instructors who inspire students intellectually in first-year courses are this year’s Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award recipients, including three instructors from the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources.
The Wyoming State 4-H Foundation awarded more than $69,000 in scholarships to Wyoming 4-H’ers attending the University of Wyoming or a Wyoming community college in the 2025-2026 academic year.
The University of Wyoming Extension welcomes Natasha Holtmeyer as the new 4-H youth development educator for Sweetwater County.
Two University of Wyoming students will present their research to the public during a Science Café Friday, April 25, from 6-8 p.m.
The University of Wyoming Extension welcomes Hannah Rodgers as a research scientist in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
Samantha Killmer, a University of Wyoming junior from Portage, Mich., is among nearly 500 students nationwide to receive the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship award.
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