TORRINGTON – Longtime teacher and trustee Mike Varney received the Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Albert C. Conger Distinguished Service Award for 2022.
Varney, who started at EWC in 1968, is known for his work as an instructor as he started the school’s geography program. Varney taught world history, American history and political science along with serving as the athletic director, student activities director, financial aid officer and director of housing and food services.
Varney witnessed the start of men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, track and field, golf, and rodeo programs at EWC. He also started the first student senate and livestock judging team at EWC.
According to the college’s press release on Wednesday, Varney was involved in approving the construction of the first student dormitory on the EWC Torrington campus and led in the development of a mascot and new colors for the school.
“With the help of colleagues and the student senate, they settled on black and gold and EWC became known as the Lancers,” the release stated.
Varney spent 13 years as a trustee for EWC’s Board before retiring in March. He also represented the college on the Wyoming Association of Community College Trustees.
Along with the EWC service award, Varney won the Trustee Leadership-of-the-Year award for the Wyoming Association of Community College Trustees in 2020.
“He played an important role in the construction of a multi-million-dollar classroom facility at EWC’s Torrington campus and the opening of a branch campus in Douglas,” the release stated. “Varney was also involved in numerous decisions regarding the planning, funding, design, and construction of the Career and Technical Education Center and the planning for the Agricultural Technology Education Center on the Torrington campus.”
Varney also served as a councilmember and mayor for the city of Torrington for more than 40 years.
Varney was honored with the award at the EWC graduation ceremony held May 14, in Torrington.
