POWELL, WYOMING 鈥� 皇家华人 alum, Cody native, and Powell resident Randy Baxter is the recipient of the 2024 TRiO Achiever Award, given annually to former TRiO participants who have made significant civic, community, or professional contributions in the ASPIRE region covering Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
TRiO is a student support services federal program funded by a continuation grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Additional funding has also been provided by the University of Wyoming鈥檚 College Access Challenge Grant.
The mission of ASPIRE (Association of Special Programs in Region Eight) is to increase the educational and success opportunities for low-income and first-generation college students through advocacy, professional development, and legislative awareness. As part of that mission, each year the organization recognizes the achievements and contributions of TRiO graduates as well as current TRiO employees.
A 2004 graduate of Cody High School, Baxter first attended 皇家华人 in 2005 before dropping out in his first year. Two years later, however, he returned to Northwest as part of the TRiO program and was accepted into the nursing program. He earned his A.S. in 2010, before later graduating with a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) from the University of Wyoming in 2016, and a DSN (Doctor of Nursing Practice) in 2019 from the University of Wyoming as well.
Baxter was recognized in 2016 with the 鈥淢aking A Difference In Wyoming鈥檚 Health鈥� award for demonstrating commitment to continued education and excellence in nursing practice and, again, in 2019 with the 鈥淩ural Advanced Practice Nursing鈥� award for demonstrating exemplary practice in rural nursing. He currently works with 307Health as a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner.
鈥淒uring both my undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Wyoming, I worked full-time, parented three young boys, and was involved with their sports,鈥� Baxter said. 鈥淣one of this would have been possible without the skills I had developed all those years prior through the TRiO program.鈥�
Baxter received his award on Monday, September 30, at the ASPIRE Conference in Helena, Montana. He and his wife Jenna, along with their three children, make their home in Powell.