Wyoming Students Participate in Summer High School Institute at UW

Fifty-eight motivated, academically accomplished juniors from more than 30 Wyoming high schools -- and one out-of-state student -- stayed at the University of Wyoming campus during June while participating in the 42nd annual Summer High School Institute (HSI).

The three-week program, which took place June 7-27, is sponsored by UW and designed to expand students' intellectual horizons and strengthen their confidence as future college scholars. The students lived in UW's residence halls and took two specially designed college-level courses taught by UW faculty. Course topics included: anthropological genetics; visual culture; Wyoming energy; psychology and law; and robotics. They also participated in hands-on research, leadership development and community-focused activities.

"HSI 2026 showcased the curiosity, resilience and creativity of Wyoming's young people," says Li Teng, the UW Honors College director of student success who directs the institute. "Each student stepped into a college environment with enthusiasm and a willingness to explore new ideas. Their growth over these three weeks was remarkable."

The students -- who were nominated by their teachers, counselors and principals -- were selected by an admissions committee following a competitive process.

More than 3,500 Wyoming students have attended HSI since its founding in 1985, and many of these students later enrolled at UW. The institute once again welcomed some of these alumni for a multigenerational panel discussion, where graduates from the 1990s-2020s shared stories about how the program shaped their academic paths, careers and sense of purpose.

"Hearing alumni reflect on their journeys helps students see what's possible for their own futures," Teng says. "The continuity of this program across four decades is one of its greatest strengths."

In addition to taking courses and hearing from alumni, the students also toured UW's cutting-edge facilities -- including the Clinical Simulation Center, Drilling and Completions Simulation Facility and the High Bay Research Facility -- and participated in research seminars on topics such as clean hydrogen. Students also took part in a service-learning partnership with Wyoming State Parks, where they contributed to habitat restoration efforts and helped remove invasive plant species.

HSI included academic field trips designed to broaden students' perspectives beyond the classroom and connect seminar topics to real-world scientific exploration. During a field trip to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, students toured the Genetics of Taste Lab and visited exhibits on paleontology, space science and human biology. On another trip, students in the "Boldly Presented Theatre" course watched a live performance of Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" in Fort Collins, Colo.

Additionally, HSI offers a range of enrichment workshops focused on college preparation, wellness, career readiness and civic engagement. In these workshops, students explored strategies for maintaining personal well-being; practiced effective leadership skills; learned how to navigate future career pathways; and gained practical insight into preparing for college life.

Listed by high school, the following students participated in this year's institute:

Burns -- Alex Wilson.

Campbell County -- Jarrod Poirier.

Cheyenne Central -- Korbin Boal, Brennen Heuer, Angus Lund and Megan Whitney.

Cheyenne East -- Donovan Carll, Ethaney Frint, Brennen Heuer, Surya Kuchanur, Izaiah Moore and Anna Oiler.

Cheyenne South -- Adi Thomas.

Douglas -- Addison Dexter.

Hanna-Elk Mountain-Medicine Bow -- Jace Lamoureux Jr.

Hulett -- Aiden Williams.

Jasper, Texas -- Grace Desantos.

Kelly Walsh -- Arjit Bhavsar, Cadence Flammang, Braddick McCoul, Lenna Scoleri and Anabel Shosh.

Jackson Hole -- Tirzah Ellis.

Laramie -- Audrey Olson, Bryce Fowler, Evan Hutchison, John McGee, Molly Nelson and Jayden Zhu.

Lander Valley -- Brinlee Heller and Edie Kemp.

Little Snake River Valley -- Sammi Helmandollar.

Lingle-Ft. Laramie -- Urijah Fish.

Lyman -- Kayson Jackson.

Mountain View -- Roslyn Russell and Hazely Sidwell.

Pine Bluffs -- Gracie Reifschneider and Kaydence Storm.

Poder Academy -- Kaleia Kling and Brooklyn Porter.

Powell -- Alaja DeFoe-Love, Abree Haney and Harley Spinden.

Riverton -- Nataleigh Gambler, Azlyn Mindrum, Chastyn Mosbrucker and Julie Smith.

Rocky Mountain -- Alex Walker.

Rock Springs -- Karlee Penland.

Saratoga -- Payton Paulson.

Star Valley -- Ireland Fildes.

Sheridan -- Ari Johnston and Kiani Mauck.

Thunder Basin -- Zak Grover.

Tongue River -- Cian Marcus.

Torrington -- Lilly Beck.

Worland -- Asha Partridge.

Wyoming Virtual Academy -- Xavier Beckstead, Breana Fonseca and Jeraldi Fonseca.

For more information, visit https://www.uwyo.edu/hsi/index.html