Photo of Edison Elder provided by WWCC
A WyoRadio employee and Rock Springs native has been named as one of the two Outstanding Graduates at Western Wyoming Community College.
Edison “Eddy” Elder will receive his Associates of Science in Engineering during WWCC’s commencement ceremony on Friday. Despite the difficult degree, Elder is graduating with approximately a 3.8 GPA.
After graduating from WWCC, Elder plans to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Wyoming.
Before College
Elder was raised in Rock Springs and graduated as a home-schooled student in 2012. He participated in athletics for Rock Springs High School.
After graduating high school, Elder spent two years playing ice hockey at the junior level before returning to Rock Springs and attending Western.
Elder says his time playing hockey greatly contributed to his success in college.
“When I was able to kind of put [school] on the shelf and go and play hockey and pursue something wholly—you know, devote my entire attention to something instead of being distracted by other things—it definitely made me respect the situation that I was in,” said Elder. “If I were to put one thing as to why I got this honor of Outstanding Graduate, it’s because I made the most of every opportunity that I was given at Western, and that wouldn’t have happened if I wouldn’t have gone in with the maturity that I was able to gain by playing hockey.”
Achievements
Once returning to Rock Springs and enrolling at WWCC, Elder became involved with the Associated Student Government his first semester.
He went on to start the Rink Rat Club to introduce people to opportunities at the Ice Arena.
He later joined the Mustang Radio Club and began hosting his own morning show, “First Cup,” which airs live from 7-8 a.m. Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays. The last show of “First Cup” will air Friday, May 13, 2016.
Elder’s interest in radio prompted him to become involved with WyoRadio. Beginning last fall, Elder assisted WyoRadio in the studio during live sporting events.
Elder is also the acting president of Western’s Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society Chapter.
One accomplishment that Elder hopes will continue to impact Western for many years is his founding and becoming the president of a club associated with Engineers Without Borders.
“Engineers Without Borders is a national non-profit organization that doesn’t normally associate with two year institutions because the turnover rate is too high for the students… and I hated the fact that as a community college student you’re missing out of two years that you could be giving back and being involved in one of these projects and being involved with organizations like this.”
Recognizing the opportunity, Elder and his colleagues were able to gain recognition as an outreach chapter of the University of Wyoming’s Engineers Without Borders. The chapter is currently working with UW on a water distribution project in Guatemala.
“If I could put my name to anything, [Engineers Without Borders] is the one that I’m most proud of because I think that has the most potential to actually motivate students at Western and has the potential for them to give back a little bit,” said Elder.
The Honor
Elder says he feels the title of Outstanding Graduate is the highest honor a student can achieve at Western.
“There isn’t a valedictorian at Western, but it’s the equivalent honor,” explains Elder. “Valedictorian is usually just determined by the staff and the faculty. Outstanding Graduate is by nomination, and then they go into a committee composed of faculty, staff, and students.”
Elder says he was humbled to even be nominated for the honor, and he was in disbelief when he was announced as an Outstanding Graduate.
“It was hard to describe the emotions that I had. I can say that most people get goosebumps. I had such extreme almost violent goosebumps my body just went numb. I was overcome. My family was there and they were able to share the moment with me which just meant so much to me.”
Melia Dayley: Outstanding Graduate
Photo of Melia Dayley provided by WWCC
Melia Dayley, a history graduate from Sugar City, Idaho, has also been named an Outstanding Graduate.
Dayley is a Mustang student-athlete who volunteers for many events and organizations.
According to a release from WWCC, Dayley’s LDSSA and Honors Program activities include local service projects such as food drives and fundraisers. Dayley also devoted between 12 and 14 hours a day to her legislative internship duties during the most recent session of the Wyoming Legislature, all the while conducting historical research for multiple class projects and a major research presentation as part of the Sweet Memories Historical Research Group. She also has a campus job that she works for 12 hours each week.
Like Elder, Dayley was shocked when she was named an Outstanding Graduate.
“Honestly, I was very surprised,” Dayley said in a release. “I’m involved in a lot of things, but I never thought of myself as ‘above and beyond,’ or outstanding. And hearing all of the other people who were nominated…I know Ed pretty well. I nominated him. I was like, ‘Edison is an amazing person and student, and he definitely deserves it.’ And all of those other people up there… I know those students, and they work so hard. Any one of us could have gotten it, definitely.”
Other nominees for the honor included: Brandon Davies, of West Valley, Utah; Tanner Petersen, of Farson; Andrea Huntsman, of Heber City, Utah; Brandon Radosevich, of Lyman; and Courtney Ward, of Rock Springs.