UW’s Peyton Hunt Receives Inaugural ‘Do Good, Be Good’ Seeton Family Community Impact Fund Award

Peyton Hunt, a University of Wyoming student-athlete, is the inaugural recipient of the "Do Good, Be Good" Seeton Family Community Impact Fund Award.

Hunt, a senior from Dallas, Texas, and member of UW's women's soccer team, received the award Thursday, April 23, in recognition of her dedication to community service and making a difference in her community through establishing the Lil Pokes Club. In coordination with Indian Paintbrush Elementary School in Laramie, the program matched 15 UW student-athletes with elementary school students to provide mentoring and positive experiences.

The award recognizes a UW student who demonstrates individual leadership in community service and a genuine commitment to helping others. Recipients receive $2,000 as well as a physical award.

The "Do Good, Be Good" Seeton Family Community Impact Fund Award is funded by UW alumnus Tom Seeton, who graduated from UW with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism in 1979 and later earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration in 1983 from the university. Seeton is involved in several initiatives that enrich the university community, including being a staunch supporter of the Pokes Food Pantry. His philanthropic contributions to UW include the establishment of the two Seeton Family "Cowboy Tough" scholarships in 2023, which celebrate student-athletes who overcome significant medical challenges, injury, disability or family hardship to make their mark in UW sports.

His vision for the "Do Good, Be Good" Seeton Family Community Impact Fund, which has been established by Seeton, reflects his belief in the transformative power of self-driven community service and leadership -- a passion deeply inspired by his many years of involvement in community service projects through his Kiwanis clubs in metro Denver. Seeton aims to foster a culture of sustained, individualized impact at UW, encouraging students to make meaningful contributions to society.

"(Hunt) has sparked a group of athletes into action that has created some truly great experiences for students," says Indian Paintbrush Elementary School Principal Jolene Roesler. "I have observed a noticeable difference in my students who have an athlete match. For some, they are motivated to do their academic work and solve problems more efficiently; and, for some of my older students, they have had fewer office referrals since their match began."

In addition to providing positive role models for elementary school students, this program has had positive impacts for the student-athletes.

"I saw these elementary kids be more confident and happier at school, and I saw the college athlete who participated be more grateful and kind in all of their interactions with others," says Colter Linford, assistant athletic director for academics and eligibility.

Linford nominated Hunt for the "Do Good, Be Good" award after witnessing her dedication to building the Lil Pokes Club and recruiting volunteers through her role as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. In addition to reaching out to every team, Hunt worked with mentors and the elementary school staff to schedule visits and ensure the program aligned with best practices.

"As a group, student-athletes have some of the most significant time constraints out there," Linford says. "These types of programs do so much good for all who participate, and Hunt managing to get this all going in one year speaks volumes to her passion for helping others."

Hunt's passion for service comes from her own experience serving as a mentor during a difficult period in her life.

"The students I mentored began opening up about their lives, and I realized many of them had experienced things similar to me," Hunt says. "In a way, it helped me just as much as it helped them."

"Service, to me, is not just about giving back; it is about connection, understanding and showing others they are not alone," she adds. "My experiences shaped my belief that even small moments of consistency and care can make a lasting impact. Through Lil Pokes Club and beyond, I hope to continue creating those moments for others."

About Tom Seeton

During his time at UW, Seeton was active in student media, serving as sports editor and news editor of the Branding Iron as well as editor of the Summer Roundup, the weekly summer school newspaper. During his junior year, he was awarded the prestigious Wyoming Press Association Scholarship for journalistic excellence and won two Rocky Mountain Press Association awards for sports news and column writing. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Seeton worked as a sports editor for daily newspapers in New Mexico, Wyoming (Rawlins) and Arizona before embarking on an exciting career with Continental Airlines and later co-managing his family's oil and gas business, Mary Helen Energy LLC. He and his wife, Cheri, live in Golden, Colo.

For more information about the "Do Good, Be Good" Seeton Family Community Impact Fund Award, visit https://www.uwyo.edu/csil/community-engagement-and-service/slce/service/do-good-be-good-award.html.