EWC graduates

Among first in the nation to graduate after entering college during pandemic

A. Marie Hamilton
Posted 5/11/22

Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Keith Kautz, a Torrington native and former Goshen County District judge, is the commencement speaker for Eastern Wyoming College’s 2022 graduation on May 13.

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EWC graduates

Among first in the nation to graduate after entering college during pandemic

Posted

TORRINGTON – Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Keith Kautz, a Torrington native and former Goshen County District judge, is the commencement speaker for Eastern Wyoming College’s 2022 graduation on May 13.
In a press release Friday, EWC Vice President of Student Services and Director of College Relations, Tami Afdahl announced that Justice Kautz had been selected as the 73rd commencement speaker for this year’s graduation ceremony at the EWC Fine Arts Auditorium.
Pomp and circumstance will begin at 10 a.m. for students graduating with an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science or an Associate Degree in Nursing. For students graduating with an Associate of Applied Science degree, ceremonies will begin at 2 p.m.
The Honorable Judge Kautz was appointed to the Wyoming Supreme Court on Aug. 4, 2015, by then Governor Matthew H. Mead. Kautz retained his position as a Wyoming Supreme Court justice in the Nov. 2016 General election.
Prior to becoming a justice, Kautz served as a District Judge in Wyoming’s Eighth Judicial District covering Goshen, Platte, Converse and Niobrara counties from Jan. 1993 until his appointment to the Supreme Court in Aug. 2015.
Justice Kautz practiced law in Sheridan and Torrington prior to becoming a judge from 1979 until 1993 with the firm of Sawyer, Warren & Kautz. Kautz graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1975 with his Bachelor of Arts in pre-law and again in 1978 with his Juris Doctor (J.D.).
In his time as a judge, Justice Kautz has served on several boards and commissions including the Wyoming Board of Judicial Policy and Administration, Wyoming Civil and Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions Committees and the Wyoming Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics. He is also a Commissioner on the Uniform Law Commission and chairs the Wyoming Continuing Judicial Education Committee as well as the Criminal Division of Wyoming’s Permanent Rules Advisory Committee.
Justice Kautz has been married to his wife Karen for 47 years; they have three children and five grandchildren.
This year’s 2022 graduates are among the first in the nation who entered college at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and are leaving some words of wisdom for future college students.
Brendan Thomas, 22, of Farmington, Utah, a golf student-athlete, is graduating from EWC with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Administration. He is transferring to Weber State University in the Fall to obtain his bachelor’s degree in business administration that he hopes to use in the golfing industry.
“It doesn’t feel real yet,” Thomas said, “I can’t believe how fast it has gone by and that I’m actually graduating soon.”
Thomas started at EWC just six months after the COVID-19 pandemic began and he said at times it was overwhelming because of repetitive closures and quarantines.
“It’s been really difficult at times but also I would say it’s been encouraging and rewarding because you’ve had to connect with your peers or professors in other meaningful ways,” Thomas explained.
But Thomas didn’t let the pandemic shortchange him because he lives by a Henry Ford quote, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are right.”
“Despite having to be quarantined and doing college online at times, I don’t believe I missed out on college milestones or the experience because my life motto is sort of the (Henry Ford) quote and therefore I decided I could, so I did,” Thomas explained. “It truly is about perspective and your own personal drive.”
When asked why he chose to attend college and EWC and what his drive was to finish his degree, Brendan said, “In all honesty, I knew I wanted to continue to play golf from high school in college and after meeting Coach (Zach) Smith, I knew almost immediately that I wanted to play for him, plus he gave me an excellent offer.”
Thomas will continue to play golf at Weber State University as he continues his education.

“I am so thankful to my mom and dad, because they have been really influential in my life and I wouldn’t be the person I am today,” Thomas said, “and that also goes for my coaches and teachers here at Eastern Wyoming College because they have given me everything I needed to graduate – to move forward with my education and future career,” Thomas said. “If it weren’t the support I’ve gotten, things would have been different, because everyone needs some support when they are a college student.”
He also said his siblings, all five of them, have given him advice and support along the way. Thomas is the second youngest of six.
Some advice Thomas wanted to offer future college students: “Make sure that whatever you are doing, you’re doing it for the right reasons – because you actually want to do it and are not being forced to do it.”
Thomas said like everything in life, he discovered that, “success comes from doing things you are passionate about, want to do, are good at and just generally enjoy doing because you aren’t being forced into it.” Which he said was his secret to success while being a student-athlete at EWC.
As for what he plans to do this summer, Thomas said he hopes to finish his missionary trip to Mexico with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that was cut short in the summer of 2020 due to the pandemic closures.
“I would really love to reconnect with the people I was working with in Mexico to finish out my mission this summer before moving back home and on to Weber State University in Utah for my bachelor’s program,” Thomas added.
Thomas plans to visit Torrington often because, “I’ve made some really good friends here and I want to keep in contact with them because I feel like ultimately, due to all of the obstacles we have faced together, we are a community, no matter where our future plans take us.”
“I just love, love, love Torrington and EWC – it’s my home away from home now and this is also my community,” Thomas ended with.
Another EWC graduate is the second of her siblings to attend Eastern Wyoming College and this is a career change for her.
Kirsty Catlin, 35, of London, Britain, is graduating from EWC with her Associate of Science degree in Pre-Allied Health. She is transferring to an undetermined university to obtain her bachelors and master’s degrees to pursue being a physical therapist with the rodeo.
Just a few years prior, Catlin had sustained near fatal injuries in a serious car accident, which made her previous career as a dance instructor unmanageable. After undergoing physical therapy, she realized that she might enjoy a career helping others on the road to recovery from serious injuries.
Her older sister had attended EWC ten years ago and still lives in Torrington. Her sister works as a professional veterinary technician for the rodeo. After several visits to her sister in Torrington, Catlin discovered she too wanted to work in the rodeo, but as a physical therapist for people.
“My sister worked with the professional rodeo and that’s when I was exposed to rodeo injuries – so I got to intern with them and learn a lot more about rodeo injuries, which I found really interesting,” Catlin explained.
Soon after, Catlin enrolled at EWC to become a future physical therapist for the rodeo. However, she said although there are many positives to being an older college student, there was a learning curve.
“Some advice I would give to people my age, or even older, who are thinking about returning to college is just do it and make sure you have proper support of your friends and family,” Catlin explained. She said the support of her parents back in London as well as the unparalleled support of her sister in Torrington made all the difference in the world for her to finish her degree program at EWC.
“My sister is amazing, she has allowed me to live with her, which you know, comes with its pros and cons too because we are sisters, and sisters sometimes bicker,” Catlin said, “But I love her and appreciate everything she has done for me to be able to accomplish my new dream in life and that is to help other people recover their life from serious injuries.”
Her parents have flown in from London to watch her graduation ceremony. “I just can’t wait to throw my arms around them and hug them – I miss them so much and I’m just so beyond excited that they are coming to watch me graduate,” Catlin expressed.
Catlin said being able to graduate from EWC has been “a great achievement because I’ve been able to go down the rehabilitation side of injury recovery in such a meaningful way, even during the pandemic, without feeling like I’ve missed out on anything.”
“For international students, some advice I would love to give them is, find some students from your home country because it can be difficult to navigate American culture and differences but having someone from home that you can talk to and/or vent to is essential so you don’t burn out,” Catlin added.
When asked what her summer plans would be, Catlin said she was unsure because she is still deciding between two universities for her bachelor’s program so her summer plans might include moving and learning her new surroundings.
A Winston Churchill quote Catlin wanted to leave with fellow graduates and her EWC community in Torrington is, “Success is not final; Failure is not fatal; It is the courage to continue that counts.”
There are 32 EWC students graduating with an Associate of Arts degree ranging from social work, early childhood education, communication and criminal justice studies.
There are 37 EWC students graduating with an Associate of Science degree ranging from agricultural business, accounting, business management, pre veterinary science and wildlife & fisheries biology.
There are 14 EWC students graduating with an Associate Degree in Nursing.
There are 45 EWC students graduating with an Associate of Applied Science degree ranging from gunsmithing, welding, farm/ranch management and cosmetology.
There are 47 EWC students receiving various certifications ranging from machine tool technology, agricultural beef production and veterinary aid.
At the end of summer, EWC will have 17 additional students graduating. Six of those students are obtaining an Associate of Arts Degree; two students are obtaining an Associate of Science degree; and nine students are walking with an Associate of Applied Science degree.
Ms. Kelly Strampe, Associate Professor – English and Arts, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences Department Head, will serve as the Master of Ceremony for both ceremonies.
 Dr. Richard Patterson, Interim President, will provide a welcome and introduce special guests. Student Senate President, Mr. Jonathan Pieper, will address the graduates on behalf of the students.
 Justice Kautz will speak, followed by EWC Foundation President Mr. Todd Peterson presenting the 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Albert C. Conger Distinguished Service Award.
 Mr. Roger Humphrey, Vice President for Academic Services will present the candidates for graduation. Following will be the presentation of degrees and certificates by Mr. Robert Baumgartner, Chair of the Board of Trustees.
 The EWC Commencement Ceremony will be available by webcast. Please visit the College’s website at ewc.wy.edu or social media pages for the link.