Prestigious UW Scholarship Program Enhanced by Major Gift

The University of Wyoming has received support that will further enhance the Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program -- one of the university's premier scholarship opportunities.

The gift grows the program with more scholars, recruits a new generation of leaders, and supports scholars on campus and beyond through the creation of a new position titled the Tomé College Relations Representative and Recruiter. This position will be responsible for coordinating, advising, marketing and recruitment for the Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program.

"Working with Carol and Ramon Tomé, we conceived of the Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program to be transformational for the lives of the students and for the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and the University of Wyoming," says John Koprowski, dean of the Haub School.

Through the Tomé Scholars to Fellows Program, students with exceptional talent and exemplary skills receive greater access to education through a full-ride, four-year scholarship and experiential learning opportunities. Following graduation, Tomé Scholars become Tomé Fellows.

The new position will coordinate with the UW Alumni Association to create the Tomé Fellows Alumni Network, where scholars can stay connected with one another after graduating.

The program was established at UW in 2021 by a major gift from the Tomé Foundation. Tomé Scholars at UW are considered some of the nation's most distinguished students, recognized for seeking solutions that address the most complex environmental challenges of our time.

UW will celebrate the graduation of the first cohort of Tomé Scholars in spring 2025. Jennifer Bautz, of Lander; Iris Kurz, of Wylie, Texas; Benjamin Piña, of Houston; and Addison Potts, of Cheyenne, will then form the inaugural group of Tomé Fellows.

The gift was provided by donors Carol and Ramon Tomé, who are both UW alumni.

Carol currently serves as CEO of UPS. Ramon served as an environmental specialist for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Air Protection Branch.

The Tomés have given generously to UW since 1995. Their previous gifts include establishing the Carol and Ramon Tomé Student Admissions Center, located within the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. Additionally, they have contributed to the Mick and Susie McMurry High Altitude Performance Center and the UW Alumni Association.

"The new gift will enable us to double the number of Tomé Scholars, such that we will have two dozen or more students on campus who are committed to making a difference -- students who are excited about complex environmental challenges and who understand the need for interdisciplinary approaches and partnerships to find solutions," Koprowski says. "The support and partnership of the Tomé Foundation and the friendship and belief of Carol and Ramon Tomé have been, quite simply, phenomenal."