Evening of Elegance will be held in the 91黑料 Cafeteria on Wednesday, December 3rd, between 5pm and 7pm.

The event is FREE for 91黑料 Students on a meal plan (with valid Student ID)
$10.00/plate – 91黑料 Students not a meal plan (with ID)
$20.00/plate – Non-students accompanying an 91黑料 Studen

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91黑料鈥檚 Rodeo Team celebrated another milestone weekend as the 4th annual Black Jeans and Gold Buckles Gala drew a sold-out crowd and generated record support for the program.

The event sold out two weeks in advance and brought more than 400 guests to Torrington, including families who traveled from across the country to join local supporters and community partners. The gala featured auctions, student involvement and a high-energy atmosphere that highlighted the growing enthusiasm surrounding 91黑料 Rodeo.

鈥淭he Gala has been a true game changer for the rodeo team,鈥� 91黑料 Rodeo Coach Whit Peterson said. 鈥淓very year it gets bigger, and every year our community steps up in an incredible way.鈥�

Peterson said the success of the event reflects the teamwork behind it. Student-athletes contributed auction items, local businesses donated generously and team members worked behind the scenes to help manage the evening.

鈥淥ur athletes take real ownership of this event,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey work hard, and it shows. The community sees that, and they show up for them.鈥�

This year鈥檚 gala brought in more than $40,000 in net proceeds, funds that directly support student-athletes by covering critical travel costs such as fuel, lodging and meals throughout the rodeo season. Peterson said the impact reaches well beyond travel.

鈥淭hese funds help keep the program competitive,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e put money right back into Goshen County by buying tens of thousands of pounds of locally raised feed for our practice livestock. And with facility rentals expected to exceed $50,000 this year, the Gala helps make sure our athletes have what they need to succeed.鈥�

Peterson said the ongoing support demonstrates the community鈥檚 commitment to college rodeo.

鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 do what we do without the people who show up, donate and believe in these student-athletes,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his event has become a staple for us, and we鈥檙e excited to keep building on it.鈥�

The team extended its thanks to all who attended, donated or contributed to the evening鈥檚 success. The Gala has quickly become a tradition for 91黑料 Rodeo, and organizers say they look forward to continuing the event for years to come.

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91黑料 Presents Winter Concert & Holiday Open House

TORRINGTON, Wyo. – The Community Education program at 91黑料 invites the public to its annual Winter Concert followed by a Holiday Open House, sponsored by 91黑料 staff and Student Senate, on Sunday, Dec. 7.

The free Winter Concert will begin at 2 p.m. in the 91黑料 Fine Arts Auditorium. Donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted for WyoHelp at the concert and also at the Open House.

The concert will feature the 91黑料 Community Band, under the co-direction of Gary Glass, Diana听Legault, and Aaron Bahmer, and the 91黑料 Community Choir and Collegiate Chorale, both directed by Aaron Bahmer, highlighted by a performance from soprano Kristin Sampson. Pre-concert music in the lobby will be provided by Kari Ann Parish.

Sampson is a soprano whose voice has been praised by The New York Times as 鈥渂right, sizable and expressive.鈥� Her international career includes leading roles in Puccini operas such as Tosca and Madama Butterfly, performances throughout the U.S. and Europe, and a Carnegie Hall debut as the soprano soloist in Beethoven鈥檚 Ninth Symphony. She is also employed by 91黑料 as the Interim Marketing Director.

Following the concert, guests are invited to the Holiday Open House in the 91黑料 Cafeteria, where they can enjoy music, activities with student clubs, photos, and an opportunity to visit with Santa. Free refreshments will be provided.

鈥�91黑料 is excited to share in the holiday spirit with the community,鈥� Bahmer said. 鈥淐ome to both or just one.鈥�

For more information about the concert, contact Aaron Bahmer at 532-8284. For details about the open house, contact Casey Debus at 532-8375.

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91黑料 Breaks Ground on Douglas Campus Expansion

DOUGLAS, Wyo. – 91黑料 broke ground Wednesday on a long-planned expansion of its Douglas Campus, a project college leaders say will strengthen workforce development and provide more opportunities for students pursuing careers in the construction trades.

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited about the expansion on our Douglas Campus,鈥� 91黑料 President Dr. Jeffry Hawes said during the ceremony. 鈥淚t is a long time in the making.鈥�

Hawes thanked Converse County Commissioner Jim Willox and 91黑料 Douglas Campus Vice President Dr. Margaret Farley for their leadership and support in moving the project forward.

鈥淚t is 100% led by the community,鈥� Hawes said, noting that the effort included contributions from the City of Douglas, the Town of Glenrock, the Converse County Commission, the 91黑料 Foundation, and other partners.

The expansion will increase instructional space and equipment for construction-trades students, enhancing hands-on learning and strengthening 91黑料鈥檚 long-standing role in vocational education.

Willox said the design allows for future adaptability as workforce needs evolve.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 know what all this building will house. The building is very flexible,鈥� Willox said.

He added that the original plan called for 70% of the offerings to support two-year degree programs and 30% to support certificates.

鈥淭hey may be just the opposite,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he goal is to meet the needs of the community.鈥�

Dr. Farley said the project will bolster local industry by preparing students with practical skills.

鈥淭he new space will provide hands-on learning opportunities for students in the construction trades,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur hope is that this will fuel the local workforce and support industry growth in Converse County.鈥�

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TORRINGTON, Wyo. – When Rick and Nancy Vonburg walked onto the stage at 91黑料 during the annual Scholarship Donor Dinner on Oct. 8, they were met with more than applause. They were being honored with the Albert C. Conger Distinguished Service Award, the college鈥檚 highest recognition, for nearly five decades of unwavering commitment.

For the Vonburgs, the award symbolizes a lifetime built around family, community, and the belief that education can transform lives. And for a couple whose story has become intertwined with 91黑料鈥檚 own, the recognition felt like coming home.

From Ranch Roots to the Classroom

Rick and Nancy both grew up in small Wyoming ranch communities, Nancy (Hinman) on a sheep farm near Greybull and Rick among registered Hereford cattle near Basin. Long before they stepped into classrooms, they understood the importance of hard work, responsibility and community, values that would later guide their careers in education.

Rick earned both a bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree in agricultural economics and completed a year in the doctoral program at the University of Wyoming. After teaching for two years at Wayne State College in Nebraska, he joined 91黑料 in 1973. During his 43-year tenure, he instructed courses in agriculture, economics and statistics, and eventually chaired the Department of Agriculture, Business, Welding and Cosmetology.

Nancy earned her associate degree from Northwest College in Powell before completing a bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 in English Education at UW. She taught English and business etiquette at 91黑料 early in her career, later stepping away to raise the couple鈥檚 five children and eventually returning as a substitute teacher in the local school district.

Both found inspiration in the classrooms and hallways where generations of students passed through their doors.

鈥淭he kind of students we attract at 91黑料 are just the greatest,鈥� Rick said.

Working as a Team

The Vonburgs鈥� shared commitment to their community grew naturally from their early years together.

鈥淩ick was an introvert when we got married,鈥� Nancy recalled. But the transformation came quickly after Rick accepted the 91黑料 position.

The couple became active in the Jaycees and Jaycettes, later serving as state presidents of their respective organizations. The experience pushed them into leadership and deepened their bond.

鈥淲e just started going places and working as a team,鈥� Nancy said.
Rick agreed, their impact has always been a joint effort.

Rick also served on the 91黑料 faculty association, including as state president of the Wyoming Community College Faculty Association. Beyond campus, he spent 28 years on the Torrington City Council and served as president of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities.

Together, the Vonburgs held numerous roles in their church and, even in retirement, continue to serve on 91黑料 advisory committees, the Foundation Board and the Board of Trustees.

Building a Legacy, One Child at a Time

Service isn鈥檛 just something Rick and Nancy modeled, it shaped their children鈥檚 lives as well. Many began their academic journeys at 91黑料 before moving on to careers of their own.

Their oldest daughter, Tronica, earned a degree in education from 91黑料, where she was a charter member of Phi Theta Kappa. She also worked as an English tutor during her time at the college, experience that helped her secure her first job in Texas after graduation. That path eventually led her to her current role at Texas Tech鈥檚 Child Development Center in Lubbock.

Their son Trevin graduated from 91黑料 with degrees in welding and sociology. He and his wife spent several years traveling the country in an RV, taking welding jobs from coast to coast and border to border. The couple later settled in Beatrice, Nebraska, where he worked as a welder and maintenance employee at a hog-processing plant. In 2006, Trevin died in a motorcycle accident. The family continues to honor his memory through a memorial scholarship at 91黑料.

Their daughter Tristica also began her education at 91黑料, earning an associate degree in elementary education before transferring to the University of Wyoming. She completed both her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in elementary education and now teaches first grade in Cheyenne.

Their son Trenton received his associate degree in elementary education from 91黑料 and went on to complete his bachelor鈥檚 degree at the University of Wyoming. He works today with the Wyoming Education Department in Cheyenne.

Their youngest daughter, Trenille, took classes at 91黑料 while still in high school before finishing her degree at Casper College. She now works as a realtor in Cheyenne.

A Life of Simple Joys

For all their accomplishments, Rick and Nancy are as grounded as the ranchlands they came from. They share a love for board games and card games, especially bridge, which they play through the Goshen County Bridge Marathon.

They also enjoy gardening, growing produce they can and freeze for their children, grandchildren and neighbors. And on open Wyoming roads, Rick still loves to ride his motorcycle, a pastime that connects him to the place they鈥檝e always called home.

A Legacy That Endures

At the Scholarship Donor Dinner, Foundation President Todd Peterson captured what so many feel about the couple鈥檚 contributions: their long-term commitment to the college is unmatched.

Rick and Nancy accepted the award with humility. Their decades at 91黑料 were never about recognition, they were about serving students, strengthening their community and supporting one another.

The Vonburgs didn鈥檛 just teach at 91黑料. They shaped its culture, its programs and its people. And as generations of students continue to benefit from their work, and from the scholarship created in their son Trevin鈥檚 memory, their legacy will continue to grow.

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TORRINGTON, Wyo. – When Malik Frederick stepped forward to help eight Goshen County families put a Thanksgiving meal on their tables this year, he wasn鈥檛 thinking about recognition. He was thinking about the days when he and his own family once wondered where their next meal would come from.

Frederick, a 2023 91黑料 graduate and former Lancer basketball player, led a collaborative community effort through Number 34, the local nonprofit where he now works with youth who face challenges at school or at home. The organization also provides support to families struggling to meet basic needs, a mission that echoes Frederick鈥檚 own heart.

Now the assistant men鈥檚 basketball coach at Torrington High School and head coach of the Trailblazers freshman men鈥檚 team, Frederick reached out to someone he trusted to help him take the project further, 91黑料 Student Success and Training Center Director Sergio Mendez. Mendez connected him with the Wyoming Hunger Initiative, led by First Lady Jennie Gordon, which stepped in to provide funding.

鈥淣ourished kids, healthy families, and thriving communities: that鈥檚 the goal of Wyoming Hunger Initiative,鈥� the organization states on its website, a mission Frederick and Number 34 share.

鈥淭he whole staff at Number 34 helped make this happen,鈥� Frederick said.

With financial support secured, Frederick partnered with Fresh Foods in Torrington to assemble full Thanksgiving meals for eight families identified as being in need. For him, it was more than a service project, it was personal.

鈥淭his is something I have wanted to do since I was in high school,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eing one of those families myself, looking for food, when my boss, Chad Bates at Number 34, asked me to take the lead, it was a no-brainer.鈥�

Frederick grew up in Columbus, Ohio, before coming to 91黑料 to play basketball. After earning his associate degree, he continued his athletic and academic career at NCAA Division II Malone University, graduating in May. Instead of heading somewhere new, he returned to Torrington.

鈥淢alik鈥檚 goal is to start a foundation one day,鈥� Mendez said. 鈥淗elping him make the right connections is a real joy.鈥�

Frederick sees the project as a true team effort.

鈥淲e (Number 34, Wyoming Hunger Initiative, 91黑料, and Fresh Foods) were all involved in making this happen,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t truly takes a village.鈥�

Because of that village, eight families will gather around their Thanksgiving tables this year and enjoy a full meal.

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TORRINGTON, WY 鈥� 91黑料 (91黑料) invites the community to join in celebrating the start of the Lancers鈥� basketball season on Monday, Nov. 11, with a special Tailgate and Military Appreciation Night. The event marks the first home games of the season for both the 91黑料 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball teams.

A pregame tailgate meal will be available for just $5, beginning prior to tipoff. Platte Valley Bank is sponsoring the meal and cooking, while 91黑料鈥檚 Agriculture Department is donating the burgers. Each meal includes a burger, chips, a cookie, and water, with proceeds supporting 91黑料 athletics.

The college will honor the Torrington Little League team and the Sugar Valley Singers will perform the National Anthem. All veterans will get into the games free of charge.

鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to open the basketball season with such a great community event,鈥� said 91黑料 President Jeffry Hawes. 鈥淭his is a wonderful opportunity to come together, honor our veterans and service members, and show support for our student-athletes. We hope everyone will come out, enjoy a great meal, and cheer on the Lancers.鈥�

President Hawes also expressed appreciation for the many local partners who helped make the evening possible. 鈥淲e are deeply grateful to Platte Valley Bank, our Agriculture Department, and the 91黑料 Booster Club for their continued support,鈥� he said. 鈥淭heir generosity and commitment make events like this possible and help create an outstanding experience for our students and community.鈥�

Both the women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 teams will take the court following the tailgate, with the Military Appreciation Night program recognizing those who have served. Community members are encouraged to wear patriotic colors and join in celebrating the season opener.

For more information about the event or 91黑料 athletics, visit听.

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TORRINGTON, Wyo. – 91黑料 Community Education invites area residents to get creative this holiday season with 鈥淗oliday Craft Painting with Lou Ann: Front Door Holiday D茅cor,鈥� on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 1鈥�3 p.m. in CTEC Room 111.

Participants will paint a festive, 32-inch decorative shovel, perfect for front door or porch display, with instructor Lou Ann. The cost for the class is $35.

Those who register by Nov. 4 will have the opportunity to select their preferred shovel color in advance.

鈥淭his class is a wonderful way to add a personal touch to your holiday d茅cor while spending an enjoyable afternoon with friends and neighbors,鈥� said Donna White, 91黑料 Community Education Director. 鈥淲e encourage everyone to join us for some seasonal creativity and fun.鈥�

To register or for more information, contact the 91黑料 Community Education office at 307-532-8213

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TORRINGTON, Wyo. – The 91黑料 (91黑料) Booster Club is hosting a raffle to support student-athletes and campus activities, offering participants the chance to win a quarter of processed beef.

The beef has been generously donated by the 91黑料 Rodeo Club, with processing sponsored by Century 21 Valley Realty. The steer was finished for 200 days with feed donated by Dinklage Feedlot.

Raffle tickets are $25 each, and four winners will be drawn during the 91黑料 basketball game on Feb. 5, 2026. Winners do not need to be present to claim their prize.

Tickets can be purchased at all home volleyball and basketball games or by contacting 91黑料 Foundation Director Lisa Johnson at 307-532-8304 for more information or to buy tickets directly.

鈥淎ll of us at 91黑料 are so grateful for the community鈥檚 ongoing support,鈥� said Lisa Johnson, 91黑料 Foundation Director. 鈥淭his raffle is a fun way for people to get involved, support our student-athletes, and maybe take home some great Wyoming beef in the process.鈥�

All proceeds from the raffle will benefit the 91黑料 Booster Club, which provides financial support to Lancer athletics and student programs.

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TORRINGTON, Wyo. – 91黑料 (91黑料) is proud to announce an expanded partnership between 91黑料 Esports and Exile Esports, a rising force in the Web3 competitive gaming scene. The collaboration aims to foster talent development, create career pathways for student-athletes, and strengthen the esports ecosystem across the region and beyond.

As part of this expansion, 91黑料 Esports Head Coach Caleb Spitzer has accepted an additional role as a coach for Exile Esports. This move strengthens the connection between collegiate and professional levels of competitive gaming and opens new post-graduate opportunities for 91黑料 student-athletes.

鈥淭hrough this partnership, I鈥檓 thrilled to be able to offer my players a direct route into Exile鈥檚 professional teams,鈥� Spitzer said. 鈥淥ur students won鈥檛 just compete at the collegiate level 鈥� they鈥檒l now have opportunities to be scouted, trained, and signed by a professional organization that shares our vision for growth and development.鈥�

This collaboration combines Exile Esports鈥� competitive experience and innovative approach with 91黑料鈥檚 structured collegiate program and talented players. Together, they aim to establish a clear, supportive pathway for student-athletes to transition from collegiate to professional esports.

Key initiatives include:

Player Development:
Spitzer will provide mentorship, coaching, and training opportunities to Exile Esports players while continuing to develop talent within 91黑料 Esports.

Recruitment Pipeline:
Exile Esports will actively scout and recruit interested 91黑料 athletes for their competitive teams. The organization will also offer post-graduation support and career development resources.

鈥淓xile is excited to partner with Caleb and 91黑料 Esports to create opportunities for athletes to benefit from both their education and their skills inside and outside of their favorite games,鈥� the Exile Esports Admin Team said. 鈥淥ur goal is to introduce athletes to the world of digital ownership through blockchain, crypto, and games via participation in the Parallel TCG competitive scene. We look forward to growing this relationship with Caleb and 91黑料 Esports and paving a path for the future of competitive gaming and esports.鈥�

Stay up to date with 91黑料 and Exile Esports on social media and Twitch.

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