Jarrett, Miller earn spots in scholarship program

Two Encampment High School seniors received four-year college scholarships from the Daniels Scholarship program, which awards students for their character, leadership and commitment to giving back to the community.

Out of around 2,500 applicants, Matt Jarrett and Brett Miller, both of whom will attend the University of Wyoming this fall, earned a place in the Daniels Scholarship Program for their exceptional traits. The two students interviewed for the position with business leaders in Laramie, and heard they received the scholarship in mid-March.

Miller said the two applied for the scholarship last fall, and that the program covers expenses that remain after all other scholarships and financial aid have been applied. He said leadership skills played a big part in the consideration process.

“A lot of it is leadership skills and community service, so being involved in high school is a big one for that,” he said. “You have to be a senior in high school to apply for it, but you don’t get nominated or anything like that for it. It’s an ‘all-unmet-needs’ scholarship, so other scholarships received count and the Daniels Scholarship pays the rest. Eventually once you get through the application process, it asks you send in a letter of recommendation from a teacher.”

According to the Daniels Fund Scholarship fund’s website, Daniels Scholars may attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States. Funding covers all or part of a student’s required college expenses, such as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies and other educational expenses, and students receive a laptop.

Jarrett said he and Miller were the only two from Carbon County to receive the scholarship. He said anyone may apply, and that community service plays a big part in being chosen.

“Your grades aren’t a huge deal with this, it’s mostly what you’ve accomplished and if you’ve shown you’re interested in helping your community,” Jarrett said.

Miller said he felt urged to try for the scholarship this year after Waddie Love, who was an EHS senior last year, received it.

“Waddie Love got it last year, so we kind of said we’d apply and see what happens,” he said. “Really you weren’t out anything if you didn’t get it, but it was awesome if you did. We were at a basketball game when we got emails telling us we were selected as finalists for it. Matt and I couldn’t get our street clothes back on fast enough to tell everyone we were finalists.”

From the eligible states of Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico, there were around 2,500 total applicants, 560 interviews conducted and 250 scholarships given out to students from the four states.