One of UW’s Largest Gifts Ever Expands Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program

What began as a remarkable celebration of the University of Wyoming class of 2026 today (Saturday) became even more unforgettable when commencement keynote speaker and UW alumna Carol Tomé announced one of the largest gift commitments in the university's history.

Carol and Ramon Tomé have pledged a transformative $20 million investment that will expand opportunity for generations of UW students. Their gift strengthens the existing Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program in the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources while extending the initiative to the College of Business, creating new pathways for student success across disciplines.

Based on current estimates, the new commitment and their previous support will provide more than 100 students with full-ride scholarships, removing financial barriers and empowering future leaders to pursue their education and career goals at UW.

"We believe deeply in what a University of Wyoming education makes possible," say the Tomés. "Supporting Tomé Scholars has been one of the greatest joys of our lives, and this commitment is our way of giving back for the many blessings we've received. It is an honor to help open doors of opportunity for students who will shape our future."

Carol Tomé, CEO of UPS and former CFO of The Home Depot, and Ramon Tomé, a retired environmental specialist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Air Protection Branch, are both proud UW alumni whose investment reflects a deep commitment to expanding access, opportunity and impact.

The Haub School's Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program was established by the Tomés in 2021 and expanded in 2024 through their additional support. Since its launch, the program has become a national model for interdisciplinary applied learning in environment and natural resource fields.

Tomé Scholars are among the nation's most distinguished undergraduate students in environmental leadership and problem-solving. Scholars complete immersive fieldwork, faculty-guided applied research, internships and service experiences that prepare them for careers in conservation, policy, business and community leadership. Graduates continue into the Tomé Fellows network, a growing community committed to lifelong leadership and service.

"This gift is among the most consequential in UW's history -- not only because of its scale, but because of what it makes possible," says UW President Ed Seidel. "The Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program has already proven that UW can develop leaders of national distinction, and now we have the opportunity to extend that model into business and entrepreneurship. The Tomés' vision and generosity are transforming our university and the future of Wyoming."

The Haub School program is one of UW's premier scholarship opportunities, providing meaningful experiences for future leaders in environment and natural resources fields. The cohort-based scholarship supports undergraduate students pursuing degrees across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics disciplines.

Tomé Scholars receive full-ride scholarships along with support for international field courses, research, internships and community engagement opportunities. Experiential learning serves as the foundation of the program, connecting classroom learning with real-world problem solving -- from wildlife habitat monitoring to watershed planning and sustainable economic development.

"If you don't care for the land, the land wouldn't care for you or your livestock," says Tomé Scholar Bailey Yeager, of Buffalo, who is majoring in rangeland ecology and watershed management, environment and natural resources, and honors. "We spend a lot of time outside with our livestock and on the land. We see how it changes over time -- for better and worse. I care deeply about continuing that legacy."

Tomé Scholars have secured competitive internships with state agencies, nonprofit organizations and consulting firms while contributing to interdisciplinary projects in outdoor recreation business planning, renewable energy markets and local sustainability initiatives.

The program graduated its first cohort in spring 2025, with those students becoming the inaugural Tomé Fellows.

"The generosity of Carol and Ramon Tomé has already had a significant impact on five previous cohorts of scholars connected to the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, UW and our state," says John Koprowski, dean of the Haub School. "The ability to have our future leaders learning on the wild and working lands of Wyoming and engaging with our natural resources and wonderful citizens provides an incredibly unique experience to understand the opportunities and challenges in the most beautiful living laboratory -- the state of Wyoming."

Koprowski continues, "Carol and Ramon have ensured that such opportunities will continue for years to come through their belief in the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and now in the College of Business, too."

The Tomés' newest investment also expands the model into the UW College of Business to create a cohort-based scholarship initiative focused on business innovation, entrepreneurship, applied research and leadership development.

Modeled after the success of the Haub School program, the new business scholars initiative will cultivate innovative Wyoming-centered business leaders equipped to drive economic and community vitality across the state.

The inaugural business cohort will launch in fall 2027, initially supporting seven scholars annually and growing to 28 students across four cohorts.

Students in the program will complete hands-on business projects, internships, faculty-led study-abroad experiences and applied research opportunities designed to build exceptional professional readiness and entrepreneurial skill.

"Carol and Ramon Tomé understand something fundamental about higher education: Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not always evenly distributed," says Scott Beaulier, the H.A. "Dave" True Jr. Family Dean of the College of Business. "This extraordinary investment in our students will help the College of Business attract, develop and launch the next generation of leaders for Wyoming, the nation and the world."

The program builds on the College of Business's strengths in job placement, applied internships, entrepreneurship and innovation competitions, and partnerships with businesses and communities throughout Wyoming.

For Tomé Scholar Sidney Armbrust of Cheyenne, the connection between environmental stewardship and business leadership is clear: "Today, business is intertwined with the environment. Our world runs on businesses -- from local to global. The economy is a driving force in society, and it's crucial that we understand both business and environmental systems to create solutions that truly work in the modern world."

Together, the Haub School's Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program and the new College of Business Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program will expand Wyoming's entrepreneurial and innovation pipeline; strengthen workforce readiness; attract and retain high-achieving students; and elevate UW's national visibility.

"The Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program will continue to create leaders who are poised to make a difference in the complex landscapes on which our people live and work," Koprowski says. "One cannot interact with these students and not come away optimistic about our future. Carol and Ramon Tomé have provided a gift that will reverberate around Wyoming, the West and the world."

These programs directly advance the Tomé Foundation's mission of developing principled leaders who elevate their communities through innovation, entrepreneurship and service.

"The Tomé Program represents exactly the kind of transformational experience that changes lives," Beaulier says. "It will create opportunities for students to engage deeply with leadership, innovation, mentorship and real-world problem solving while building a community of excellence within the College of Business."

The Tomés have supported the university for decades. Their previous gifts support the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center, the Mick and Susie McMurry High Altitude Performance Center, the UW Alumni Association and numerous student initiatives.

During her commencement remarks, Carol reflected on the values that continue to guide her leadership: "I believe any good leader has a servant's heart -- always putting those around them first in everything they do. For me, serving to create is about investing in people so they can reach their highest potential. Investing in people and watching them grow makes my heart sing."