Brenly Shipp looks into her grandfather’s ear with her otoscope. Shipp was inspired by her grandfather’s journey to become an audiologist.
Twenty-eight Wyoming students have been given hefty scholarships to the colleges of their choice by the Daniels Fund.
This year, over 200 students across four states were awarded these scholarships. But these awards are more than just funds, they offer a sense of community and assistance for the students.
Students will receive a full-ride to colleges within the four state region — and a couple outside of that — that are considered “partner schools.” The University of Wyoming is considered to be one of those schools.
If a student chooses to go to a nonprofit, accredited school outside of the region, the Daniels Fund will award up to $25,000 a year for qualified educational expenses.
The award is highly competitive. Students must exemplify strong character, leadership skills, commitments to their communities, high academic performance, a well-rounded personality and emotional maturity.
Students must also meet specific test score requirements, be financially eligible and be a resident of either Colorado, New Mexico, Utah or Wyoming.
Over 3,000 students applied, which was then narrowed down to 410 finalists, according to the Daniels Fund.
The final stage of the application process is an interview with a panel from the student’s community.
Brenly Shipp, a senior from Lingle, is one of the students that was chosen for the scholarship.
Brenly Shipp poses with her grandfather Greg DesEnfants.
Shipp is one of five valedictorians at her school, a feat that she says is not normal. However, Shipp is the only recipient of the Daniels Fund scholarship from her school, Lingle-Fort Laramie High School.
Shipp will use the scholarship to attend the University of Wyoming in the fall to pursue her undergraduate degree in speech and language hearing sciences to become an audiologist.
Her aspirations stem from her own life. Shipp’s grandfather, Greg DesEnfants, has had some type of hearing device for most of her life. She watched as her grandfather moved from hearing aids to cochlear implants and saw him learning to hear again.
DesEnfants said that he first got hearing aids at age 42, and his hearing continued to deteriorate until he was considered to be legally deaf.
As part of her school’s job shadowing program, Shipp has been able to work under the audiologist who treats her grandfather. This audiologist was the one to recommend the implants to DesEnfants. He just had his second one implanted in August.
“Samantha, the gal that [Shipp] works with, got me into the cochlear deal,” DesEnfants said of his doctor. “I never looked back after the first one.”
DesEnfants said that it “warms his heart” that his granddaughter has chosen a career path inspired by his life and challenges.
Soon, Shipp will get to meet the other recipients of the scholarship at a large conference.
Scholarship alumna Tylynn Hall, who was a 2013 recipient of the Daniels Fund scholarship, called the experience “super helpful.” During Hall’s conference, the attendees had motivational speakers, lessons on being successful in college and even etiquette classes.
The impact that the Daniels Fund has on scholarship recipients does not stop once students enter college. The fund keeps up with students to make sure that they are continuing to strive both academically and personally. Recipients are required to participate in volunteer work, according to Hall.
“It’s good things that you learn to do in college,” Hall said. “Some of those service opportunities, I met some older friends I have in town that are still friends of mine to this day. They came to my wedding and everything.”
“That definitely wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the Daniels Fund Community Service Days,” Hall said.
Even now, eight years since graduating college, she is still involved with the fund’s scholarship program.
“More than just a financial resource making college possible, the Daniels Scholarship gives recipients access to intensive development, coaching, and engagement opportunities to prepare them as highly sought-after employees and leaders ready to give back to their communities and positively influence American life,” according to the Daniels Fund’s press release.
The Daniels Fund began funding programs after the death of Bill Daniels, a leader in cable television’s development in the West. Daniels established his first cable system in Casper in 1954.
Upon Daniels’ death in 2000, his estate gave $1.1 billion to the fund to establish scholarships, grants and programs that contribute to “nonprofit organizations and deserving individuals” that align with his core values and specific funding areas.
In the 25 years of the scholarship, the fund has awarded over $275 million to over 5,000 students.
Twenty-seven other Wyoming students were awarded a scholarship this year from the Daniels Fund:
Allison Allsop is the education and health reporter for the Casper Star-Tribune. She can be reached at 307-266-0544 or allison.allsop@trib.com.
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Education/Health Reporter
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Brenly Shipp poses with her grandfather Greg DesEnfants.
Brenly Shipp looks into her grandfather’s ear with her otoscope. Shipp was inspired by her grandfather’s journey to become an audiologist.
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Account processing issue – the email address may already exist
Sign up with
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Invalid password or account does not exist
Sign in with
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Secure transaction. Secure transaction. Cancel anytime.
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
A receipt was sent to your email.
