Rewarding commitment: Stalcup award recognizes extraordinary LCCC students
Jan and W.M. Stalcup have always placed education at the core of their lives. With
a familial lineage steeped in teaching, coupled with personal experiences in academia
and witnessing the positive impact of a degree on individuals, the Stalcups ardently
advocate for the profound transformative power of education.
They are the namesake of the Jan and W.M. Stalcup Excellence Award, an honor to recognize a Laramie County Community College student each year “…who has gone above and beyond by engaging in the LCCC community” and stipulating that “(t)he award should not be based solely on grades but by a commitment the student made in service to the College or the Cheyenne community.”
Over the last decade, a student graduating during the spring semester has been selected to receive a cash award with no stipulations attached. In that time, the awarded has given more than $40,000 to recipients.
“We wanted to leave it open-ended, and it’s been really fun to meet and talk to these recipients to find out how they’re going to use the money,” Jan said.
One student used the funds to replace the heater in his vehicle so he could commute between Cheyenne and Laramie and attend the University of Wyoming. Another bought a horse trailer for her children who were in 4-H.
Whatever the students do to improve their lives, the Stalcups believe the recipients have earned the help.
“It's rewarding them for their hard work academically, what they did as part of the LCCC community, and for how they were involved in the Cheyenne community, as well,” Jan said.
A selection committee consisting of LCCC faculty members determines who the recipient will be each year. Jan and W.M. said they have full confidence in the committee to make their selections with thoughtful consideration of the award’s intent. The committee members are Dr. Kari Brown-Herbst, Academic Affairs senior vice president, and Dr. Melissa Stutz, Student Services senior vice president.
“We don’t have any input, and they just do a stellar job in evaluating the candidates that are put forward,” W.M. said.
The Stalcups came to Cheyenne around 1992 to relocate a company from South Florida. That company was called SafeCard Services, Inc., and its employees included many who received job training at LCCC.
“It was a huge undertaking, and LCCC helped in the training of an estimated 150-200 people who we hired,” W.M. said.
SafeCard Services’ relocation to Cheyenne made a significant contribution to the local economy. W.M. said LCCC helped make that opportunity for Cheyenne residents possible.
“LCCC was critical in bringing those people up to speed,” he said.
Jan, hailing from Lawrence, Kansas, spent 11 years in the Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas, where she taught elementary students, leaving an indelible mark on their educational experiences. After moving to Cheyenne, Jan spent 12 years on the Laramie County School District 1 Board of Trustees, chairing the board for eight years. In all her years as an educator and elected official, Jan said she was focused on helping students from all backgrounds.
With those experiences, the Stalcups know how education can transform lives, and how much financial assistance can help students. Each year’s recipient is a validation of the award’s importance.
“We’re always in awe of the students who are selected,” Jan said.