91黑料 Foundation honors scholarship donors and longtime supporters Rick and Nancy Vonburg
91黑料 Foundation honors scholarship donors and longtime supporters Rick and Nancy Vonburg
Event celebrates donors whose generosity fuels student success and honors decades of commitment to EWC.
TORRINGTON, Wyo. 鈥 Gratitude, connections, and celebration filled the room on Oct. 8 as the 91黑料 (91黑料) Foundation hosted its annual dinner honoring scholarship donors and student recipients. The evening also recognized a couple whose dedication to the College spans nearly five decades.
91黑料 Foundation President Todd Peterson presented the Albert C. Conger Distinguished Service Award to Rick and Nancy Vonburg of Torrington. The annual award, named for the College鈥檚 first president, honors exemplary leadership, support, and achievement that have significantly enhanced 91黑料 and the success of its students.
鈥淣ext to Guido Smith, Rick and Nancy’s long-term commitment to the college is unprecedented,鈥 Peterson told the audience of more than 100 donors, students, and community members. Smith joined 91黑料 in 1956 and served as president from 1984 to 1990.
Rick and Nancy began teaching at 91黑料 in 1973. Nancy taught English and Business Etiquette for several years before raising their family of five children and later worked as a substitute teacher in the local school district. Rick retired in 2016 from his position as Department Chair of Agriculture, Business, Welding, and Cosmetology, and Instructor of Agriculture, Economics, and Statistics.
鈥淩ick Vonburg created, oversaw, and instructed a very solid agriculture curriculum that prepared hundreds of students for continued studies at four-year institutions,鈥 Peterson said. 鈥淎fter retirement, Rick has remained very involved in the college, serving on Ag Advisory Committees, the Foundation Board, and the Board of Trustees. Rick and his wife Nancy rarely miss any college function.鈥
Four of the Vonburgs鈥 children attended the banquet to honor their parents. The family also honors their late son, Trevin, through a memorial scholarship.
Following a memorial video tribute to the late Suzey Delger, Stephen Delger spoke to the audience about his wife鈥檚 love for the college and for nursing. Suzey helped establish the nursing program at 91黑料 and served as its first director. The Delgers created a nursing scholarship in honor of all eight nurses in their family, with the hope of helping others achieve their dreams of entering what they call the most noble profession.
During the evening, Adahline Goulart, a sophomore agribusiness student from Lingle, shared remarks about the impact of scholarships and the community she has found at 91黑料.
鈥淭here are a number of students here, most definitely including myself, that would not be here on campus if it was not for the generosity of the scholarship donors,鈥 Goulart said. 鈥淣ot only do the scholarships give us the ability to purchase everything we need for our college adventure, they give us encouragement because they tell us that you believe in us and want to see us succeed.鈥
Goulart also spoke about the importance of relationships formed at the College.
鈥淥ne thing that I absolutely love about 91黑料 is the connections and the friends that you will make and probably keep,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he staff and faculty are welcoming and make 91黑料 feel like home. Above all, 91黑料 is a place where you can chase your career and your dreams and still be part of a community that knows how to come together and support each other through all of the ups and downs.鈥
The 91黑料 Foundation currently holds 110 scholarship funds and administers a number of pass-through scholarships. For the 2025鈥2026 academic year, the Foundation awarded $117,489 in scholarships to 134 students.
The 91黑料 Foundation was established in 1964 to act as the fundraising arm of 91黑料. The 91黑料 Foundation raises, receives, and manages private gifts to support student success through scholarships, program funding, and campus enhancements.
