“College is so different than high school. You could be in a class, like a lab, with 15-20 people or in a lecture hall with a couple hundred people,” explains Sierra White, UW freshman and BGCCW alumnus. “And if I can give you one piece of advice, don’t wait to do your homework. You can’t cram college homework into the night before it’s due!”

Sierra is just over a month into the start of her college career. She welcomed and addressed Boys & Girls Club members from across the state at the recent Campus Pass Day at the University of Wyoming. Her message included insight into what college is like and how the Boys & Girls Club’s Youth of the Year program made a higher education possible for her. She earned a full tuition and fees scholarship (supplement to Hathaway) to the University of Wyoming as the 2016-17 state Youth of the Year.

(Watch a portion of Sierra’s message to Club youth here.)

Sierra’s welcome served as an introduction to the day ahead for those attending Campus Pass. Close to 40 Central Wyoming youth took part in the event held in Laramie. At BGCCW’s recent Awards & Recognition Breakfast, UW President Dr. Laurie Nichols joined BGCCW’s CEO Ashley Bright in announcing a new partnership between the state’s Clubs and the University of Wyoming. Among the opportunities of this partnership is the chance for Club kids to visit UW’s campus.

“As Wyoming’s only University, we can play a key role in helping teens discover the possibilities rather than be held back by any of their own personal difficulties,” said Dr. Nichols. “We hope by having these young adults on campus, we can plant the seed of the possibility of college and demonstrate the potential that lies beyond high school.”

“With this collaboration, we hope to instill the belief and confidence that a University of Wyoming education is possible for Boys & Girls Club members in Wyoming,” said Mr. Bright.

During Campus Pass Day, the students were given tours of what the University has to offer, checked out resources available on campus, ate lunch, greeted the football team and head coach Craig Bohl, and sat in the stands to cheer on the Pokes as they took on Texas State.

In addition to being invited to participate in Campus Pass Day, the University of Wyoming announced additional scholarship support for Youth of the Year candidates throughout the state.

________________________________________________

Visit our Facebook page to see more photos and videos from our trip to the University of Wyoming.