Six seniors graduating from high schools throughout Lincoln County have been awarded the 2026 Trustees’ Scholars Award, which is the University of Wyoming’s top academic scholarship.  Hudson Himmerich of Cokeville High School, Jacob Platt and Owen See of Kemmerer High School, and Trace Hillstead-Clauson, Alexis Tolley and Mylie Webb of Star Valley High School are the award recipients from Lincoln County.

“This is the premier scholarship that we offer to Wyoming high school graduates,” said Chad Baldwin, who serves as Associate Vice President of Institutional Communications at UW. “These are the top of the top here…the students that universities across the country are trying to recruit away from Wyoming.”

The Trustees’ Scholars Award offers tuition coverage of four years, or up to eight consecutive semesters, toward an undergraduate degree. Tuition coverage allows up to 18 credit hours per semester. A university housing standard double room and board package is covered, along with all mandatory fees.

Three home school students and seniors from 31 high schools throughout Wyoming were chosen by the selection committee, which evaluated recipients for academic excellence demonstrated by an exceptionally high grade-point average throughout high school, abnormally high ACT/SAT scores, and a rigorous high school curricular schedule. Candidates were also required to complete an interview. For this year’s award winners, the average GPA is 3.97, and the average ACT score is 32.

To retain the scholarship all four years at the University, award recipients must maintain full-time continuous enrollment of at least 12 semester hours during the fall and spring semesters each year and a 3.25 cumulative GPA.

Baldwin explained one reason why the university offers such a generous scholarship to university freshmen. “If we can keep a student here at Wyoming’s university, there’s a much higher likelihood they’re going to stay in Wyoming after college graduation.”

For more information about the UW Trustees’ Scholars Award, as well as other scholarship opportunities at UW, visit www.uwyo.edu/sfa/scholarships/index.html.