The Wyoming Department of Education has opened participation in the annual Pacesetter Award Program, which recognizes outstanding Native American students in our state. This prestigious award is a testament to the remarkable achievements and contributions of Native American students in Wyoming high schools. The Pacesetter Award honors the top two Native American students from each high school in grades 9-12. These students exemplify excellence in various aspects of their educational journey and community involvement.
To select students for the Pacesetter Award, each high school is encouraged to select up to two students based on the following criteria:
- Academic achievement.
- Attendance.
- Leadership among peers.
- Performance of community service.
- Aspirations for continued education or training after high school.
There is no scoring matrix and high schools are free to make their own determination on how to weigh or score the above criteria. Complete the selection form by April 1, 2024, to identify the selected students from the school and indicate availability to present the award during the Native American Education Conference. If there are no students this year, please inform us on the form.
All Pacesetter winners will be honored during a ceremony on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at the 2024 Native American Education Conference. The ceremony will take place at the Peck Arts Center Auditorium at Central Wyoming College in Riverton. Awardees will be presented with a gift, and a framed certificate, and a reception will follow in their honor. Parents, family members, and friends are invited to attend the conference. While attendance is not mandatory, a principal or another administrator is welcome to present the award to the student(s). If no one is able to attend, an NAEC committee member will present the award.
In an effort to showcase the exceptional achievements of the awardees, the conference will spotlight Pacesetter Awardees during general sessions with a conference slide deck. A photo of the student(s) and a brief description of what makes them worthy of the award is requested to be uploaded to support this process. A formal letter from Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder will be mailed to the parents and will be provided to high schools to ensure families receive notification of the Pacesetter Award ceremony.
Thank you for the commitment to celebrating the achievements of Native American students in Wyoming. Participation in the Pacesetter Award Program is essential to its success.
For more information, contact Antoinette Hallam, Pacesetter Award Chairperson, at 307-777-5217 or antoinette.hallam@wyo.gov.