SUMMER Fellows 2023
Meet the Summer Fellows from 2023
About the Summer Fellows of 2023
Each of the Fellows brings a unique perspective to the program. We asked, “What excites you about working with young people in your community?”
Alexandra Walters, Casper: Working with young people is exciting because they have so much curiosity. They ask questions. These questions help me to learn, grow, and gain new perspectives. Kids often have a fresh perspective on the world, and I love hearing their ideas. In turn, I get to help them grow their curiosity and passion for STEAM. Understanding the world around us can be very empowering, and I want every kid to have the opportunity to explore their curiosities. One big problem in the STEAM field is a lack of diversity. I want to encourage all to believe that they are capable and can join the field if they want. A lack of acceptance is the cause of suffering for so many young people, but I want them to know that they are supported and welcomed.
Elizabeth Ann Green, Laramie: I think it is extremely important for young people in our community to build connections. No matter what background a child comes from, they deserve to feel comfortable in their community. For children to meet older people, outside of school, who want them to learn and develop skills is an amazing way for the child to feel safe and comfortable learning about their community. Moreover, when children feel backed by their community, they tend to gain a sense of pride in where they live. With that, they are more likely to try to bring as much good into their neighborhoods as they can now and in the future.
Kelli Frimml, Worland: I love teaching and guiding kids as they grow and learn more about the job itself along the way. I feel that it’s so important to help kids stay on track with their educational levels and aid them in subjects they are struggling in so that they can walk into the new school year ready and confident.
Kora Williams, Laramie: They look up to us and we influence them a lot more than we think. These kids and younger individuals are our future and need good, positive influences in their lives. A lot of them look forward to seeing us because it is something stable in their lives. Another thing that excites me about working with the youth is how unpredictable they are. They watch so much YouTube and Tik Tok on their free time, so you never know what they are going to say. I enjoy hearing all the random things that come out of their mouth and all the different thoughts they have. These kids teach me more than I can teach them. A third thing that excites me about working with kids and younger individuals is meeting new people. I love meeting new kids, getting to know them, and hearing about their stories. Kids are all so different from each other in their own ways.
Nicole Porter, Laramie: I am always looking for more ways to get involved with kids in my community. I currently work with at risk youth and it is very rewarding. I get as much out of it as I give!
Peyton O’Dougherty, Casper: One of the absolute best qualities that young people possess is resilience; their ability to persevere astounds me. Along with their uncanny brilliance, young people have an innocence that allows them to be candid and have a perspective all their own. I believe that the sacred moment wherein a “lightbulb” occurs is arguably one of the most important in the world of education.
Sahar Faqeeri, Laramie: What excites me is sharing my experiences with them and answering their questions. I find this to be so much fun because personally I learn a lot through meeting new people and asking people of their experiences because that leads me to a path and from there, I can begin building my own experiences. I feel like working with young people in the community, they are always carrying an imaginary toolbox around with them, and me or anyone else as a volunteer in this type of service serve as “tools” for them in their toolbox, and they can pull out those “tools” anytime in their life and use them!
Sarah Elizabeth Gregg, Laramie: I am excited to impact the lives of young people in my community. I want to inspire young people as well as help them discover who they are and what excites them in life. I would be so excited to take young people on different adventures in my community and show them what the community has to offer them now in their lives and in the future. Young people are a key part of our lives and they have a huge impact on our world today and have the ability to make huge differences in the world too.
Shelby Foery, Casper: When I was in school, there were certain experiences and people that helped turn my interest in science into my career path. Without those opportunities to explore the outdoors with people knowledgeable about science and invested in my education, I know I would be at a different place in my life. My parents love to travel and are also educators, so they invested greatly in exposing my sibling and me to other cultures while encouraging a love for Wyoming. I understand that not all children or young adults have the same opportunities that I did. I loved to see their excitement grow while exploring the campus and programs like this one are so important in providing the opportunity for students to experience Wyoming and all that it has to offer.
Mission: We bridge the gap between Wyoming’s out-of-school programs and the communities they uplift, fueling them with resources, support and opportunities that inspire lifelong learning, growth and connection.
Family of Funds
Cultivating Community and Growing Leaders
Today we join the National Summer Learning Association to celebrate the power of Community & Leadership. Learning happens everywhere and young people thrive when they feel a sense of belonging and purpose. That’s why the Wyoming Enrichment Network supports programs and partnerships that build strong relationships and create meaningful leadership opportunities across the state. When we invest in the people and places that help youth grow, we help build a brighter future for all of Wyoming.
Why is Community & Leadership Important?
Research from the Afterschool Alliance shows that when youth are given authentic opportunities to lead, they gain confidence, build communication skills, and deepen their sense of purpose. Near-peer mentorship is especially powerful. As STEM Next says, “STEM confidence is contagious." When youth see someone just a step ahead, they’re more likely to take that step themselves.
Leadership in Action Across Wyoming
Wyoming 4-H helps youth explore leadership and civic engagement in fun, hands-on ways. At this year’s Showcase Showdown in Laramie, young people from across the state took part in contests, workshops, and tours—including a stick horse engineering challenge that brought together creativity, teamwork, and lots of laughs. Explore Wyoming 4-H Leadership & Civic Engagement>>
COWGIRLS in STEM inspires youth to engage with STEM across Wyoming. At their Cheyenne camp this summer, young people worked in teams to imagine AI-powered robots that could help them in their daily lives—an activity that sparked both innovation and connection. Learn more about COWGIRLS in STEM>>
Learning Through Mentorship
At WYEN, we’re proud to support programs like the Summer STEM Fellowship and our High School Fellowship pilot with the Big Horn Basin Boost Program. These efforts empower students—from high schoolers to college undergrads—to design and lead hands-on learning experiences for younger youth in their communities.
Nicole Porter, a graduate student in counseling at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, continues to apply what she learned as a Summer STEM Fellow and mentor. One key takeaway? The value of “volleyball conversations” that keep ideas moving and invite many voices. “It’s something I still use today,” she says.
Spotlight: Download the ACRES STEM Facilitation and Learning Models. This simple three-page guide offers excellent ways to think about leading discussions in STEM. But it’s great for any subject! Click here.
When Nicole asked current Fellows what they love most about working with kids, the answers were heartfelt: Ashley and Jada spoke about relationship-building. Aidyn shared the joy of being outdoors and helping kids be themselves. Mia enjoys teaching STEM. Allison loves gardening with young people. Lauren appreciates seeing kids from the YES House unwind and connect. And Maisie? “They think out loud. No filter. It’s real.”
Nicole Porter, a 2023 Summer STEM Fellow Alum: “I get as much out of this work as the kids do. I learn so much about myself through working with young people—and that’s a beautiful thing.”
The Big Horn Basin Boost Program is helping high school students become role models. Through a WYEN pilot project, high schoolers designed and led weeklong mini-camps for middle schoolers. They choose topics based on their own interests and career goals. One of the participants was John, a sophomore with interests in theater, the military, and video games. He wanted to focus his mini-camp on ways that gaming can foster friendship and teamwork. WYEN connected him with a professional game designer and together they discussed career pathways and strategies to engage middle schoolers through gaming.
Try This! Activities for Programs and Families
Learn more about Youth Voice! The Afterschool Alliance Youth Voice Toolkit can help you explore the spectrum of youth voice work and tools and examples from partners at each level of youth involvement and best practices. Mizzen’s Ten Tips for Amplifying Youth Voice can help lead to more engaging and effective programs.
SPOTLIGHT: Get To Know You and Establish Group Norms is a 30-minute downloadable activity from the Search Institute designed to build trust between group members by exploring what members have in common and what makes them unique. This activity was popular with the Summer STEM Fellows! Click here.
Dig into the Leadership and Civic Engagement modules from Wyoming 4-H. The invite young people to "get started with a foundation in leadership that you can build upon over a lifetime!"
Learning to Give’s series “Open Doors to Your Community,” helps young people learn about the purpose of public safety while meeting people involved in their community. They have tips for visiting a fire station, a police station, and more! Each guide is a virtual door that leads young people to an actual door with ideas for engagement.
Build a fort with WY Quality Counts and help young people learn practice collaboration. The instructions note that reflection can help develop those skills: “Talk to them about how they feel working with another person. Did it make them happy? Did they have fun?" The instructions are for younger kids, but the lesson could easily be adapted.
Keep Learning!
Want to see more? Visit wyoenrichmentnetwork.org/summer-sparks to explore other stories. Share your own summer learning experiences using #SummerLearningWeek and #ThriveBeyondTheBell.
Igniting Curiosity, Connection, and Growth All Summer Long
The Wyoming Enrichment Network is celebrating National Summer Learning Week (July 14–18, 2025) by spotlighting the amazing ways communities across the state are helping young people stay curious, connected, and growing all summer long.
