TORRINGTON – Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Foundation honored longtime supporters Rick and Nancy Vonburg with its highest award during the annual scholarship donor dinner Oct. 8.
The couple received the Albert C. Conger Distinguished Service Award, named for the college’s first president, for their exemplary leadership and decades of commitment to EWC.
“Next to Guido Smith, Rick and Nancy’s long-term commitment to the college is unprecedented,” said EWC Foundation President Todd Peterson, addressing more than 100 donors, students and community members. Smith joined EWC in 1956 and served as president from 1984 to 1990.
Rick and Nancy began teaching at EWC in 1973. Rick continued teaching for 43 years, while Nancy taught a few years until they added a daughter and then twins. Nancy taught English and Business Etiquette for several years before raising their five children and later worked as a substitute teacher in the local school district. Rick retired in 2016 as Department Chair of Agriculture, Business, Welding and Cosmetology and Instructor of Agriculture, Economics and Statistics.
“Rick Vonburg created, oversaw and instructed a very solid agriculture curriculum and prepared hundreds of students for continued studies at four-year institutions,” Peterson said.
Since retirement, Rick has served on agricultural advisory committees, the Foundation Board and the Board of Trustees. Four of the Vonburgs’ children attended the banquet. The family also honors their late son, Trevin, through a memorial scholarship.
The evening also featured a memorial video tribute to Suzey Delger, who helped establish the nursing program at EWC and served as its first director. Her husband, Stephen Delger, spoke about his wife’s love for the college and nursing. The Delgers created a nursing scholarship in honor of all eight nurses in their family.
Adahline Goulart, a sophomore agribusiness student from Lingle, shared how scholarships have impacted her education.
“There are a number of students here, most definitely including myself, who would not be here on campus if it was not for the generosity of the scholarship donors,” Goulart said. “Not 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 you believe in us and want to see us succeed.”
For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Foundation awarded $117,489 in scholarships to 134 students. The Foundation currently holds 110 scholarship funds and administers several pass-through scholarships.
The Eastern Wyoming College Foundation was established in 1964 to raise, receive and manage private gifts supporting student success through scholarships, program funding and campus enhancements.
