TORRINGTON – A new education-based tourism program is in the works at Eastern Wyoming College (EWC). Much of this program is focused on the town of Sunrise. It will look at creating a field school for archaeology and anthropology, protect the history of Sunrise and help “bring some museology to the college.”

EWC President Dr. Jeffry Hawes highlighted the funding the college has received through the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) at the EWC board of trustees meeting Tuesday night. Hawes said the grant received will provide funding for five program areas, including, math, nursing, agriculture and tourism. For current programs, the grant will help expand the program and provide funding for new and innovative equipment.

According to www.wyo.edu/wip/, “The (WIP) was created at the request of Governor Gordon in 2021 to modernize and focus Wyoming’s efforts to develop a resilient workforce and economy. The effort aims to better align Wyoming’s economic development agenda by increasing collaborations between state entities and ultimately local partners.”

The WIP initiative is organized into three separate phases. At the meeting, Hawes said the college was recently awarded $2.5 million in funds during the first phase. The education-based tourism program will be funded with an $890,000 portion of that grant. It is expected to be operational by next summer.

“WIP’s key objective is to offer graduates more opportunities to stay in or return to Wyoming as a result of a developed ecosystem that drives innovation, skills development, and introductions to new jobs across a diversified industry portfolio,” according to www.wyo.edu/wip/. 

Hawes said the incoming tourism program is really unique.

EWC is fairly close to an extremely valuable historical resource. Only 40 miles away, north of Guernsey, is Sunrise, Sunrise Mine and the Powars II Paleoindian Archaeological Site. Sunrise has become known for its rich history.

“The Sunrise Mine, over the last 100 years, was an active iron ore mine, but if you move backward in time, like 20,000 years ago, it has been labeled as the oldest Paleolithic mine in North America,” EWC’s Director of Institutional Development John Hansen said at the meeting. “It is literally a world-class resource.”

“[Last summer,] I watched these three Ph.D. students in a hole digging [at the archaeological site], and they were finding answers to things they’ve been studying their whole life,” Hansen continued. 

Hansen explained the education-based tourism program focuses on creating a field school for archaeology and anthropology, as well as providing opportunities for college classes and summer credits for high school students. 

“This grant will look at putting dollars to help put heating into the YMCA [building in Sunrise], training a field school, look at protecting this resource and bring some museology to the college,” Hansen said. “We have this cultural resource in our backyard. How are we going to help them bring in resources?”

The YMCA building in Sunrise is known as the first YMCA built in Wyoming. Over the last few years, the SkillsUSA team from Guernsey-Sunrise High School has been working hard to refurbish the building and restore it to its former glory. 

“[Walking through Sunrise] is like walking into a museum before it even knows it’s a museum,” Hansen said. “There’s something very special about how we’re going to help develop this resource, teach and learn. I just think it’s going to be a really amazing partnership.”