(Riverton, WY) – The County 10 Student of the Year Banquet continued for its third year Wednesday night, May 14, where 10 local seniors were honored and recognized at Central Wyoming College’s Intertribal Education and Community Center.
The ten Students of the Year, all of whom were at one point highlighted in the County 10 Student of the Week feature, were selected by their respective high schools’ teachers and staff.
The students each received a $500 scholarship, courtesy of Contango.
The recipients for each high school are listed below, along with a few words provided by their schools.
- Kenya Rhodes, Arapahoe Charter High School: “Kenya is a force to be reckoned with. She is a great athlete, astounding student, gets involved in cultural celebrations… (and participates in) ACHS Warrior Council.”
- Ben Quiver, Fort Washakie High School: “Ben has demonstrated exceptional dedication, hard work, and kindness in everything he does, making him a standout member of our school community.” (Note: Ben was not in attendance at the Banquet.)
- Tenley Reisig, Lander Valley High school: “I know in addition to taking challenging courses, she is also taking on a lot of responsibility for our National Honor Society, and her leadership has been a tremendous asset to that organization.”
- Victoria Gale, Riverton High School: “Victoria Gale is a model student and a natural leader. She is calm under pressure and advocates for herself and her needs. She works hard to serve the communities she is involved with.”
- Emma Miller, Wind River High School: “Emma is a beautiful soul. She has a love for art and music but also showcases her talents in volleyball, basketball, and track. She is accepting of all people.”
- Sammie Cyrus, Dubois High School: “He has faced hurdles and grown into a great young man. He has found a passion for graphic design and photography and ended the year as a 2025 WHSAA 2A wrestling state champ.”
- Aurora Pate, Frontier Academy: “Aurora has also taken on a new role at the school and serves as a front office aide. Aurora has excellent self-awareness and demonstrates a willingness to grow and learn.”
- Douglas Crawford, Pathfinder High School: “Douglas is a phenomenal student who is funny and kind to everyone. Douglas is extremely reliable and is always willing to help.”
- Alex Brown, Shoshoni High School: “Graduating from CWC with three associate’s degrees in math, science and STEM, together with high school graduation. ‘My future plans are to attend Lehigh University to pursue multiple degrees.'”
- Marley C‘Hair, Wyoming Indian High School: “He is dedicated, articulate, reliable, driven motivated, focused, responsible, high-achieving, and well-rounded. His academic performance is above average and his work ethic is outstanding.”
After each student was recognized, Victoria Gale was then selected as County 10’s official Student of the Year, and received an additional $500 scholarship. 
New to this year’s Banquet was the Teacher/Support Staff of the Year awards, which were also chosen from the pool of Teacher of the Month and Support Staff of the Month features.
The Teacher of the Year recipient for 2025 was Christina Bekken, and the Support Staff of the Year was Davette Mock.
The guest speaker for this year’s festivities was Christie Wildcat of Riverton, a University of Wyoming alumna and dedicated community advocate.
“Don’t forget where you come from… your roots matter,” Wildcat advised the students. “You’re on your own path. Keep moving forward, even though your steps are small, you’re still moving forward. Trust your journey.”
“Create your own story. Own it. Use your voice,” Wildcat also told the soon-to-be graduates before reminding them that “success isn’t about what you accomplish, it’s about who you serve and how you give back.”
“For us at County 10, this is one of the most meaningful events we do all year,” shared Will Hill, County 10 CEO. “Our mission is to connect the community. Our youth come from every corner of the County, every culture, every background, and they connect us and they are our future. To honor them this way and support their ongoing education is the fulfillment of our mission.”
Congratulations to each of this year’s recipients from us at County 10, and good luck with all your future endeavors! Also, thank you to all the sponsors, pictured below, who helped make the Banquet possible.