https://caspercollege.cvlcollections.org/files/original/0795b8a309f40d11c52c6f801529ce5e.pdf 3c0a9446039e2e77acb33fb2454baab8 PDF Text Text May1, 2025 Casper College’s Student Voice Since 1945 Kosine selected as Casper College's president Kylie Wheaton Chinook Writer On April 15 the Casper College Board of Trustees announced Brandon Kosine, Ph.D., as the college’s new president starting May 1. According to a press release by the college, the decision was unanimous and the board is very confident in Kosine’s ability to lead the college. The board was impressed with his work as interim president and looks forward to his continued leadership. In the same release Vice Chairman Todd Milliken said, “I am 100% convinced that we have selected the right candidate.” President Kosine said he is very excited to receive the position. He spoke about his time at the college. In the college’s release he said, “I came to Casper College to teach psychology and will soon be its president. I am humbled, honored, and privileged to continue serving Casper College and the Casper com- munity as president. I will continue to facilitate our strategic plan, which was passed last year, as well as the campus master plan, in order to move the college forward. I am also committed to increasing our collaboration with the Casper community, which has become my true home these last 13 years. I love Casper.” This decision was reached after a long, intense process, consisting of much deliberation and thoughtful planning. After a total of 66 applicants, the three finalists were announced in February. The finalists went through a final round of panels, meetings and interviews with Casper College before the April decision. Students celebrate Earth Day with first clothing swap Hailey Carr Chinook Writer In a creative effort to promote sustainability, students from the Biology Department at Casper College, with support from faculty member Kelly Keenan, organized the school’s first campus-wide clothing swap on Earth Day, April 22. The event encouraged students to refresh their wardrobes in an eco-friendly way — all without spending a dime. Keenan had long been interested in hosting a clothing swap on campus and saw Earth Day as the perfect occasion. After bringing up the idea in an environmental science course, she said she worked with a group of enthusiastic students to bring the project to life. “The goal was to offer a simple, sustainable alternative to fast fashion and highlight how much waste can be avoided by swapping instead of shopping,” said student volunteer Erin Asper. Leading up to the event, the group held several plan- Upcycled style with Riah Kylie Wheaton Chinook Writer Creativity has no limits for a Casper College student named Mariah Geis. She expressed herself through creating upcycled clothes. Last summer, Geis began creating upcycled clothes for sale under her personal brand Riah. Geis said her passion for upcycling began while taking a print making class at CC. “Everyone was printing on paper and I just thought it would be really fun to print on shirts” said Geis. “So, I went out and thrifted a bunch of shirts and started printing on them and people were like ‘I really want to buy one of these’ and I was like oh, this is a really cool, people really like my designs.” From there, Geis said she slowly started experimenting with sewing on patches which eventually led to her creating her own articles of clothing. Geis’s clothes slowly gained popularity, and she produces monthly drops consisting of 15-20 pieces per drop. Geis said one of her favorite drops was her first one entitled “Cowboys Love Fashion”. As Geis has dropped more and more collections, she’s gained more customers and is now more selective about the orders she takes. “Now I’m kind of in a place where I can be picky about what I do and don’t want to make,” said Geis. “I found out really quickly that I do have a taste and I do have a passion about what I’m making […] if I don’t love the design, I will recommend them to someone else.” Geis said she enjoys being able to be more selective on the pieces she makes because she ning meetings to coordinate logistics and design a smooth experience. From organizing drop-off and pick-up times to creating colorful flyers and digital advertisements, the team worked to make the process clear and approachable. “We really focused on keeping it simple and acces- sible,” Asper said. “It can get overwhelming if you overcomplicate it.” Participants were invited to donate gently used adult clothing and accessories in exchange for tickets, which they later used to "shop" from the curated swap collection. During the break between drop-off and pickup, volunteers sorted items and transformed the space into a thrift-storestyle setup. “We wanted it to feel like a fun, casual browsing experience — like stepping into a pop-up thrift store,” Asper added. — See Clothing swap Page 3 uses upcycling as a form of expression. “I like to think I dress pretty masculine. Like I will wear button ups, and I will wear sneakers and do things like that, but in my designs, I really cater to female clothing,” said Geis. “I think it’s a way for me to express my feminine side a little bit more.” CC student Marc Sanford helps make all this possible by being Geis’s photographer. Sanford said he is a good friend of Geis and has known her since sixth grade. Sanford said he works to help make Geis’s vision come to life. “I’m there to execute the vision she has,” said Sanford. “I just have to match the energy of what she’s trying to convey.” Both Geis and Sanford said the vibe varies from shoot to shoot, but they enjoy the creative challenge. As she continues to design new clothes, Geis said she is trying to be more thoughtful and intentional with how she is portraying the human body. Geis said she’s taken inspiration from RuPaul’s Drag Race when choosing how to design her clothes. “I’ve realized that I need to be paying more attention to the way I’m making the human figure look,” said Geis. “What shape is it giving? Like is it elevating your body or is it making it look worse? […] There [are] clothing choices that are going to make you look better and that’s something I’ve been focusing on lately.” Geis’s intentional and unique designs caught — See Upcycled Page 5 Photo Courtesy of Marc Sanford Mariah Geis, a Casper College student, found a passion for upcycled clothes in a print making class on campus. Now, she curates her own designs that the University of Wyoming fashion department plans to feature at the Kaleidoscope Fashion Show on May 3. Cattle and coordinates Bella McManus Chinook Writer Photo Courtesy of Sweetgrass Photography Nolan Hornecker is the 2025 Casper College Commencement speaker. He double majored in agriculural business and GIS. Nolan Hornecker, an agricultural business and GIS (geographic information system) major and the graduation speaker this year, wears a belt buckle with his family brand on it, passed down from his grandfather to his father, and now to him. The “shining cross” on the buckle— a cross with two beams of light shining from it— represents their family and Christian values. “I’ve got a lot of belt buckles, but this one means by far the most to me… it’s my own personal brand,” Hornecker explained. “It’s who I am and who I’m trying to be.” Hornecker is on his family’s brand registration with his father, Heath Hornecker, an agriculture instructor at CC. Being on the registration means that Hornecker will one day inherit its use. He plans to use it to continue running his own ranch like his family is currently doing. Heath said Nolan grew up around livestock and always expressed interest in the industry. Hornecker said his dad has always been a big role model to him. “I look up to both my parents, but I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with my dad being at the college here. I look up to what he does and the things he’s going out and doing… I look up to that and I want to have that ambition with the things that I want to do in my future,” Hornecker said. Hornecker’s GIS instructor, and CC’s interim Dean of the School of Science, Jeff Sun said that Hornecker is working on getting his FFA drone license to use in his future career. “You can tell he’s interested and likes it because he turns in good work,” Sun said. In a personalized class project last fall, Sun said, Hornecker worked with a group of students to fly drones over the college’s ranch and map out the hayfields. Hornecker said he’s always enjoyed maps and geography, and he said they are becoming much more prominent in the ag world. He’s looking forward to using his GIS degree and his ag business degree simultaneously, and he thinks it would be cool to use drones to spray seeds and fertilizer. As well as always having been interested in agriculture and geography, Heath said that growing up, Nolan enjoyed sports. He played football and baseball, participated in wrestling, and enjoyed skiing. Baseball was his big sport. Heath explained that his son loved the strategic side of the sport somewhat more than the athletic side and always enjoyed thinking about the statistics and technique that went into a game. “He likes to think of sports more like a chess game… It’s been fun to watch the mental side of that,” his dad explained. He said that Nolan carried this interest into his academic work as well, using strategy to do enough work to get the highest letter grade without having to get the highest percentage. After graduation, Hornecker plans to continue his schooling at a university. He said he’s loved his time at CC, especially the basketball games and rodeos, but he’s ready to get out of the wind. In the meantime, Hornecker said he will work over the summer building maps and doing data analysis for a local pipeline. “I think things happen for a reason. I think opportunities fall in place where they see fit,” Hornecker said about his time at Casper College. The graduation speaker said he wouldn’t change anything about his life or what brought him to where he is today, and the one piece of advice he would give to his younger self would be to enjoy his years in school and the people around him. “Enjoy it while you can because… it’s been a quick two years and graduation’s here in a month…. It’s gone quick,” he said. Hornecker certainly took his own advice and made the most of his time not just at Casper College, but in every aspect of his life. Using his two majors, he found a way to connect his education to his interests and the work he values. �Page 2 May 1, 2025 From the President's Desk Chinook Stance Why Parents Are “Softer” on our Younger Siblings Bella McManus Rose-tinted rants As the second oldest of five children, I often notice that my parents seem to let things slide with my younger siblings that they never would have with me. I always assumed it was because when their older children got to a point of needing less correction, they simply forgot that the younger children were still in a place of adolescence and rebellion, and were still very much in need of the guidance the older children received. As I’ve grown further away from my family, however, simply due to getting older and living more of my own life, I’ve been able to view my parents with a different lens. It seems to me now that because my parents had my sister and I when they were in their early twenties, they weren’t fully mature yet. I mean, my mom was only two years older than I am now when she had my older sister. I can’t even imagine having kids at this point in my life, especially as I often feel like I myself still need to be “parented.” So, as I see it, my parents were still growing up when they had kids. How can one be expected to raise someone well when they themselves are still figuring life out? Fast forward twenty years -- my youngest sister is twelve and my parents have both passed forty. Ironically, the older they’ve gotten, the younger they’ve acted. When my sister and I became teenagers, it seemed that they did too. They flirted with each other and joked more and were easier to relate to than ever before. They still disciplined us, but they weren’t as uptight. They weren’t as strict. I believe they finally reached a sort of relaxed state in their lives where they felt it was okay to finish living out the young adult versions of themselves that they had to put to rest the moment my mom became pregnant. This relaxed state may have resulted because my older sister and I were old enough to show them that they were doing a good job as parents, and because we were able to help watch our younger siblings some, we relieved some of the pressure on them. From this second teenager phase, they seemed to go through maturity again, but this time it wasn’t rushed due to the impending arrival of another family member; it was natural. They are the most calm and in-love versions of themselves that they have ever been, and I think it’s simply because they were able to not only complete that cycle of maturity, but also learn to heal and grow and move past whatever generational trauma they experienced. I believe this is why they are softer on our younger siblings; they are not as hard on themselves as they once were, and it extends to every aspect of their lives, including their parenting. As we wrap up another academic year at Casper College, I want to take a moment to congratulate each of our students on everything you’ve accomplished. Whether you’re completing your first semester or preparing to graduate, this is a time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the progress you’ve made. “ This year has brought its share of challenges and triumphs, and through it all, you’ve demonstrated resilience, determination, and a commitment to your goals. Earning college credits—whether one class, a certificate, or a full degree—is never easy. It takes dedication, discipline, and grit. You should be proud of what you’ve achieved. To those who will be returning in the fall: enjoy a well-deserved break this summer. Take time to rest, recharge, and refocus. We look forward to welcoming you back. Every semester is another step forward, and we are excited to have you continue your journey with us. To those of you graduating, transferring, or entering the workforce: congratulations on reaching this important milestone. You are ready. The knowledge and experience you’ve gained at Casper College have prepared you to take on new challenges with confidence. Whether you're starting a new job, continuing your education at a four-year institution, or exploring new opportunities, we believe in you and your ability to succeed. We send you off with confidence, knowing that you are ready to make a positive impact in your communities and beyond. Always remember success isn’t only measured in degrees or job titles, but in the character you bring to your work and the compassion you show to others. As president, one of the greatest joys of this role is seeing the unique paths our students take and the incredible things you go on to do. No matter where your next chapter leads, remember Casper College is always with you. You are forever part of the Thunderbird family, and we will support and cheer you on every step of the way. Casper College truly is an education for a lifetime! I encourage you to make the most of your summer. Spend time with family and friends. Enjoy Wyoming’s beautiful outdoors. Do something that brings you joy. You’ve earned it. Best wishes for a safe, restful summer and continued success in all that you pursue. Always remember success isn’t only measured in degrees or job titles, but in the character you bring to your work and the compassion you show to others. — Dr. Brandon Kosine, Ph.D., Casper College President caspercollegechinook.com Join our Chinook staff this fall! Interview & write Take photos & design Learn sales & advertising Explore web development Create social media content The Chinook is a one credit class titled Independent Publications Contact our faculty advisor Bri Weigel for more information brianne.weigel@caspercollege.edu Learn how the U.S. immigration system allows family reunification through Family-based Immigration, including the process for petitioning a parent, spouse, or child, both domestically and abroad Saturday, May 17, 2025 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Inmigracion Basada en la Familia Hay mucho en juego a la hora de reunir a una familia. Descubra cómo y cuándo el sistema de inmigración de los EE. UU. permite que un padre, cónyuge o hijo emigre a los Estados Unidos. Revise el formulario de Petición de familiar extranjero y analice el proceso de petición de un familiar ubicado dentro del país o en el extranjero. Scan QR code for more information �May 1, 2025 Page 3 CHINOOK Clothing swap....................................... Although turnout was smaller than hoped, partly due to other clothing drives on campus, the atmosphere remained upbeat and supportive. Students who participated appreciated the chance to declutter, find new pieces, and support a good cause. Leftover items were donated to the Art Club’s clothing drive or earmarked for local thrift stores and shelters. The event not only aligned perfectly with Earth Day’s message but also sparked conversation about sustainable fashion and environmental responsibility. Organizers hope to expand and improve the swap in future years, potentially partnering with other student groups. “We’d love to see it become an annual tradition — or even just inspire people to try swaps with their friends,” Asper said. “The goal is to reduce waste and make sustainability something everyone can participate in.” With a strong foundation and a clear mission, the campus clothing swap proved that even small steps can make a meaningful difference. As organizers reflect on the event and gather feedback, there’s hope that next year’s swap will grow — drawing more students into the conversation on sustainability, one outfit at a time. continued from page 1 WRITING CENTER The Writing Center at Casper College is here to help our students and members of the community. Brainstorm possible paper topics Craft an essay Get feedback on a draft Gain writing strategies And so much more! Visit us in Strausner Hall, room 215 or visit the Writing Center Moodle site for additional resources and appointment scheduling! Contact: 307-268-2610 wco@caspercollege.edu Hailey Carr/Chinook Ashlynn Johnson searches her closet for the perfect piece to bring to the clothing swap. �Page 4 May 1, 2025 CHINOOK . t p Se 5 2 0 7, 2 REGISTER NOW CC Students run FREE! Use promo code 2025CCSTUDENT when you sign up. Lookout Point Half Marathon • Downhill Half Marathon • 10K • 5K Sign up: caspercollegefoundation.org/tbird-trek Questions? Call 307-268-2325. Casper College provides equal opportunity in education and employment — caspercollege.edu/nondiscrimination. Taking Online or Hybrid Courses? The Digital Learning Center supports your journey by helping you master essential digital tools. We ensure you have access to the resources you need for online and hybrid classes. HOW WE CAN HELP: • MyCCMoodle: Learn how to submit assignments, participate in forums, and more. Plus • Zoom Assistance: Access/navigate Zoom for remote classes and collaborations. lot m a ore! • Google Suite Support: Docs, Drive, Gmail — make the most of these tools. • Office 365 Access: Use MS Word, PowerPoint, and other essentials. • Online Tutoring Guidance: Navigate NetTutor and other resources for extra help when you need it. • Study and Work Spaces: Try out our newly furnished student room to study, relax, or use the computers and printer. • Tech and Snacks: Enjoy snacks like popcorn or ask about our VR and green screen! r You s our i cess ity! c u S r Prio Tyler Teresa Dave Katie FOR HELP OR MORE INFORMATION stop by Liesinger Hall, Room 132, or contact us at 307-268-3882, dlc@caspercollege.edu, and av@caspercollege.edu. Mike �May 1, 2025 Page 5 CHINOOK Upcycled................................................ the attention of the University of Wyoming’s fashion department. Geis will be featuring her new line “Business as Usual” as the head- line designer in the Kaleidoscope Fashion Show in Laramie on May 3. The opportunity is Geis’s first time showing on a runway and said she is very excited for the challenge. “I’m really familiar with […] photo shoots, live is going to be so different than what I’m used to,” said continued from page 1 Geis. “I’m going to have to think about like, okay how’s this going to look when someone’s walking in it, which is something I never really had to think about before.” Geis said she is very excited and looks forward to continuing to get her brand out there. Ready for the rodeo Tim Hubert Chinook Writer As regular season rodeo winds down, Casper College’s Interim Head Coach, Neil Williams is filling his coaching boots with unwavering confidence in his team of studentathletes. Williams is new to coaching rodeo but not to the sport itself. “I started rodeoing my freshman year of high school. I did it all the way through college and a little bit of pro,” said Williams. After the conclusion of his rodeo career, a mutual connection told him about the new head coach opening and encouraged him to take the job. He comes with the hopes of carrying on the traditions of the college’s successful program. He hopes to help the athletes get to the College National Finals Rodeo and perform at the highest level. Williams is all too familiar with performing in the CNFR. As a student at Casper College, Williams appeared in the CNFR all four years of his career, competing under the leadership of then Head Coach, Tom Parker. The team set its eyes on the CNFR, but the team first Hailey Carr/Chinook hopes to conclude the regular Junior Colten Powell competes in Saddle Bronc event at 69th annual Ropin and Riggin Days in season on a high note. The CC rodeo team competes in the Casper last month. final rodeo of the season in Laramie to at the University of Wyoming. The UW rodeo will be the team’s final opportunity to earn points and improve seeding. “If we hold our spot in second this weekend, we will get to take a team of six guys [to the CNFR]” said Williams. There are two ways to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo, and both are on the table this weekend. The first way to qualify for the CNFR is individual scores. Over the ten regular season rodeos, the CC cowboys and cowgirls earned points in their respective events with the hopes of placing in the top three in the region, effectively qualifying them for the CNFR. The other way to qualify for the CNFR is through team qualification. If the team finishes in the top two amongst other teams in the region, the team of six men or four women will compete in the finals. Currently four Casper College cowboys are qualified already for the finals, but if Casper can hold the current position of second place in the team standings, the program will qualify as a team and be able to send two additional athletes to the CNFR. Taking over as head coach in the middle of the season, Williams led the CC team for just the past three rodeos, including the Ropin’ and Riggin Days rodeo in Casper. Although at the conclusion of the regular season, Williams will only have seen his team compete at four rodeos, he shared the utmost confidence in this group. “Looking back at the standings, there's a reason they are in second place in the region,” said Williams. He spoke about how impressed he is with how the team performed in the limited action he watched this season. Casper’s James Perrin impressed Williams tremendously over the last couple of months. Perrin is in his third season with the Thunderbirds, and he is topping the leaderboards this season. The Canadian, small-town native is currently sitting in first place of all saddle bronc riders in the region. The T-Birds are all too familiar with the saddle bronc standings, as Perrin is followed by teammates Eastan West in second and Malcom Heathershaw in third place. Saddle bronc riding will be one of the biggest events for the Thunderbirds in this year’s CNFR, and fans should expect excitement and high-level competition. Casper College hosts annual lamb and pig sale Photo Courtesy of Anne Wood Casper College hosted its annual lamb and pig sale on April 5, drawing in buyers from all over the country and showcasing the hard work of students and faculty in the agriculture department.​​In the days leading up to the sale, students and staff organized the event, prepared animals, and ensured every detail was in place. The agriculture marketing class took on the responsibility of designing the promotional flyer and compiling the catalog for the sale, giving students valuable real-world experience in event marketing and coordination. The day before the sale, the college held a show to evaluate and place the animals, determining the order in which they would be sold. Agriculture Instructor Anne Wood spearheaded the event, overseeing operations and ensuring everything ran smoothly. Her leadership played a key role in coordinating both students and staff and in handling the logistics behind the scenes. On sale day, the atmosphere appeared energetic and fast-paced as students stepped into various roles to help the event run efficiently. Some students ran gates and assisted in getting animals ready for the ring while others managed buyer check-ins, handed out bidder numbers, and helped with payment processing and loadouts at the conclusion of the sale. Auctioneer Garrett Nunn kept the pace moving steadily throughout the day, helping the sale stay on schedule. CC students raised a portion of the animals offered as part of their hands-on learning while the remainder came from consignors across the region. “I was working in the office during the sale, helping check people out and process purchases,” said Karina Mysse, an agriculture student at CC. “It gave me a real-world look at how events like this are run and highlighted the importance of behind-the-scenes work.” The annual lamb and pig sale not only provides practical experience for students, but also helps strengthen community connections and support the college’s agricultural programs. Overall, the event was a great success and a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved. caspercollegechinook.com �Page 6 May 1, 2025 CHINOOK Cindy Huckfeldt: Teaching Generations Natalie Benson Chinook Writer Cindy Huckfeldt taught multiple generations of students since she began teaching at age 36. Now that she’s retired from public school teaching after 23 years, Huckfeldt works at the Casper College Writing Center. Despite no longer teaching traditionally, Huckfeldt didn’t retire from teaching altogether. “I do this because it feeds that piece of me that still needs to teach,” Huckfeldt said about working at the writing center. For the majority of her teaching years, Huckfeldt taught middle school English. While she wanted to teach high school, Huckfedlt said that God kept placing her in middle schools where kids just needed someone to love them where they were and understand where they were at. Huckfeldt’s own middle school teacher influenced her feelings about students. “I didn’t learn to read until I was in seventh grade,” Huckfeldt said, “I had a very chaotic childhood, and we changed schools a lot. And when you're worried about safety, you're not worrying about your alphabet. My life was a lot calmer by middle school, and I had a teacher that handed me the right book at the right time.” Because of her experience, Huckfeldt was determined to help her own students, which definitely showed in her approach to teaching. Keenan Morgan, an education major and one of Huckfeldt’s former students, said, “I think that there are some teachers that you can tell don't care. But she wasn't like that. You could tell that she did and that if you needed something, you could probably go to her for it.” Morgan also shared how Huckfeldt helped him in middle school with a test that would make or break his grade over a book that he didn’t enjoy. While he still didn’t enjoy the book, Huckfeldt helped him understand where he needed to study and read, and he was able to pass the test. Morgan said she was also very understanding when it came to recitation tests, helping students in a way that acknowledged their fear of presenting, instead of just having them push through regardless of their feelings on the matter. Huckfeldt shared that many students who came through her class didn’t enjoy reading. She said some students didn’t have the skills and needed something to interest them so that they could practice, and others didn’t like to read because they had never been handed something that interested them. Huckfeldt said she empathized with the students and found something that would interest them, turning, as she put it, non-readers into readers. She also said that she loved how students brought new eyes and insights to books she had taught for years, or would say hilarious things that she still remembers fondly. While Huckfeldt enjoyed teaching at public schools, her time at the Writing Center is also enjoyable because of the difference in environment. She said she can still teach but doesn’t have to deal with meetings and parents, and she’s done working the moment she leaves. Huckfeldt said the writing center is also generally in a much lower stress environment where she can also work one-on-one with students, whether once or multiple times, and can give them the tools for future papers and assignments. Along with English, Huckfeldt also teaches quilting. “I have a group of little old ladies that I meet with once a week, and I do a lot of teaching and tutoring on that because they all love quilting, but not any of them had really any formal training,” Huckfeldt said with a laugh. “Come to think of it, neither have I, but I've got it figured out.” In her years of teaching traditionally at public schools and university, Huckfeldt taught students from ages 11 to 60. With the community quilting class, that number goes up to age 92, adding to the multiple generations that Huckfeldt taught. According to Huckfeldt, her favorite thing about teaching came in the connection with her students. Not only the connections day-to-day in the classroom, but also the connections with students she sees in the Writing Center, which aren’t as long term but are just as meaningful. To Huckfeldt, the compensation for teaching was the connections she made with the students. “It's the paycheck. You know? Teachers don't get paid tremendously well, it's not starvation, but… the payday comes in those relationships that work, and finding out, you know, “Mrs. Huckfeldt, I need to talk to you about what happened in my life”,” Huckfeldt Natalie Benson/Chinook Cindy Huckfeldt works with student Tim O’Brien at the Casper College Writing Center. said. As she’s getting older, Huckfeldt also said it might be time to begin the next chapter in her life. “It's getting probably time to retire again here pretty soon. I'm pushing 70 pretty awful hard,” Huckfeldt chuckled. “So it'll, you know… step out into the unknown again. …It’s good for your blood pressure.” Linda Cox: Career-long doctor, lifelong student Gentry Hiser Chinook Writer Reaching retirement age for most people signals the pinnacle of a life’s work and a well-earned time to relax, but for Linda Cox, retirement allowed time to further pursue a lifelong passion. Cox is a retired medical doctor turned student of dance and fine arts. Cox graduated from Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago, Ill in 1985 with a Doctor of Medicine degree. She used her degree wisely and practiced medicine in Colorado and Florida before a job opportunity brought her to Casper. “I accepted a position here with the allergy group, Dr. Shaw, and everything seemed great. He was going to retire. I was going to take over the practice, but once I got here, I was treated kind of like a dog. It was horrible… So after about three weeks, it didn’t work out,” Cox said. She said she applied to other positions, including some out-of-state following her experience, before realizing that most practices seemed unlikely to recruit someone on the verge of retiring. While the job opportunity didn’t pan out, Cox didn’t let the move to Casper go to waste. “Meanwhile, I had driven by Casper College with my husband — it was really cold and icy — and I tried to find the dance department,” said Cox. With the permission of Jodi Youmans-Jones, CC dance instructor and NASD arts accreditation coordinator, Cox enrolled in ballet lessons. According to Youmans-Jones, “[Linda] had a whole life and then left that life and decided to go back to do something that she really wanted to do when she was 20.” Cox participated in any available dance class near her while she was still practicing medicine. When dance wasn’t available, she joined zumba classes instead, she said. Now that she is retired, Cox said, “Being back in college prevented this feeling of ‘you’re retired. What do I do with the rest of my life?’ It makes you feel young.” In 2022, Cox graduated with an associate degree in dance. Now, she’s pursuing another associate degree in fine arts. While Cox understood that CC offered the option to audit classes, she lives under the philosophy that, “Personally, I think if you’re pursuing it for something that counts, you work harder. You get more out of it.” Youmans-Jones said she believes Cox’s age comes with positives and negatives, just as an 18-year-old’s age does. “I think it brings an experience. I think it’s also— I’ve had to recognize… and she’s had to recognize that it’s also unearthing a lot of memories that are not always pleasant,” Youmans-Jones said. Cox often uses dance and art to process traumatic memories in her life, such as when she was diagnosed with breast cancer around her 60th birthday. Today, she’s over ten years cancer-free. Around the time of her diagnosis, she began using pendants she found in consignment shops to make jewelry as a form of therapeutic expression. “I got totally into jewelry making. That was my focus. I would wake up and spend a day just designing one strand of a piece I’m working on,” Cox said. She explained that, “Every piece has a story.” Cox gave many of her finished jewelry pieces away to friends and family. In 2023, Cox and Youmans-Jones published an article together entitled “Dance as a Healing Art.” YoumansJones cited both of their colorful personalities as the reason they get along so well. The article was presented as a lecture at the World Allergy Meeting by Cox and was later discussed at a World Health Organization assembly meeting. The article discusses the therapeutic benefits of dance. “Overall, the studies demonstrated that [dance interventions] provided benefits in several physical and psychological parameters, as well as executive function as compared with regular exercise alone. Impressive findings were that dance was associated with increased brain volume and function and neurotrophic growth function,” page one of the article states. Cox’ and Youmans-Jones’ article demonstrates both the creative and scientific sides of the brain coming together as one. Youmans-Jones said it was initially a struggle when Cox first came to Casper College to get her to see dance through a creative lens. “She really eventually pulled all the way back around and found, re-found her own creative side and her own way of expressing things,” said Youmans-Jones. Using her own history of Dance Medicine, YoumansJones said she had to guide an instructor that first worked with Cox upon her enrollment at CC on how to communicate with Cox’s medical brain. “First year with Jodi, she would get mad. ‘Want you to stop looking at your clinical side. Work on your creative side.’ And then towards the end of my degree, she said ‘I want you to get clinical,” Cox laughed. Cox continued, “It’s an interesting crossover. But when you think about it, there are similarities. Medicine is an art, too.” Moving forward, Cox hopes to research healing practices of art, and she’s in the process of developing an article detailing applications of therapeutic practices of art, just as she has with dance. She continues to take dance and art classes at CC, and hopes to use her knowledge to bring classes to the community via a community center. Bill Jenson: A hard working man of adversity Kadin Yeager Chinook Contributor Kadin Yeager/Chinook Contributor Bill Jenson, a Casper College volunteer and former long-time staff member, posed for a photo with the Chinook. In the Casper College Swede Erickson Thunderbird Gym, the sounds of basketball players moving up and down the court mix with the washing machine and rumbling dryer. The cycle finished sound goes off followed by swift noises of laundry being moved around and folded to perfection. In that laundry room is a man who has worked to provide the nice and clean uniforms for every athlete in the gymnasium for the past three years now. The man who works in the laundry room is Bill Jenson. Jenson, for a long time, has been a staff member with the college with years of wisdom and experience. Jenson is now in his third year of volunteering with 24 years of work beforehand as a custodian. In total, Jenson has worked for 27 years at the college. When he moved to Casper, he had a friend who suggested him a night custodian job at Casper College. “After Mrs. Jenson passed away. I was going to quit,” said Jenson. “He said to come to the gym, and I’ll make sure you stay here, and I’ve worked here since.” Before working in Casper, Jenson went to the University of Wyoming in Laramie where he majored in business and says to have been quite the party animal. After college, Jenson worked at a bank as a bank teller in Cheyenne for 20 years. During his time working at the bank, he hadn’t missed a single day outside of vacation days. However, after 20 years went by, Jenson left the bank. “I left the bank because they quit paying interest on savings,” Jenson said. After Jenson quit his job as a bank teller, Jenson served in the Wyoming National Guard. Sometime later after serving in the national guard, Jenson moved to Torrington, Wyo. where he and his wife opened a restaurant called Paul’s family restaurant. After closing the restaurant, Jenson moved to Casper where from there he started to work for the college. Elizabeth Romsa, supervisor of campus services, helps Bill do everyday things and drives him to work from time to time. Romsa said she wouldn’t have the position she is in today had it not been for Jenson. “I didn’t have insurance at my former job, so my medical bills were a lot,” Romsa said. “Bill told me to come work at the college so I can help my son and that I can use him has a reference.” Romsa used to work at a restaurant here in Casper as a waitress. Jenson, who used to be a usual customer at that restaurant, would end up offering her a job at Casper College. Jenson doesn’t know when how much longer he plans to work for Casper College. However, he wants to keep going for as long as possible. “I was here for a couple of years, and I had prostate cancer, and I was gone for six weeks,” said Jenson. “So, I don’t know. It just depends.” Despite Jenson having past health problems, he has surpassed all of his family members. “My brother passed away at 78, my dad passed away at 78, and my mother passed away at 68,” Jenson said. Outside of being a party animal, Jenson likes to think of himself as someone who gets along with people very well and considers himself a very hardworking person. Jenson also values being respectful to others and wants others to keep doing the same. “Been a good citizen and respect others,” said Jenson. While Jenson’s future with the college may still be uncertain. One thing that is for sure is that he is a great contributor to the campus and has helped so many in the past. Jenson is the definition of a hard worker who has overcome obstacles and continues to provide a great service not only on campus, but to the community. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Chinook Student Newspaper Online Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2019-2026 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text; image Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Casper College Chinook Student Staff Language A language of the resource ENG Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Chinook Student Newspaper, CCA 08.i.2023.01 WyCaC US. Casper College Archives and Special Collections. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CCA 08.iii.2023.01_Chinook_Digital Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Online Chinook Newspaper 2025-05 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2025-05 Description An account of the resource This is a copy of the online Chinook Newspaper from May 2025. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text; image Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Casper College Chinook Student Staff Language A language of the resource ENG Is Part Of A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included. Chinook Student Newspaper, CCA 08.i.2023.01 WyCaC US. Casper College Archives and Special Collections. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CCA_08.i.2023.01_2025-05 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF