EVANSTON — Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder visited Horizon Junior and Senior High School as one of the stops on her recent “Tour of Excellence” throughout the state. Degenfelder has chosen schools to visit that utilize innovative strategies to improve student achievement and educator satisfaction.

“The Tour of Excellence is all about celebrating our standout teachers and schools and the exceptional work they are doing. These are the schools that aren’t afraid to take risks and try new things if it is what is best for students, and they should be recognized,” Degenfelder said on the Wyoming Department of Education website. “It also gives us the opportunity to learn from what those educators and administrators are doing so we can work to replicate it across the state.”

Recipients of her visit were chosen through a statewide public nomination process. Forty-four schools applied and seven were chosen for site visits. Those schools chosen were Wagonwheel Elementary in Gillette, Riverton Middle School, Lander Valley High School, Cody High School, Anderson Elementary in Cheyenne, Little Snake River School in Baggs, along with Evanston’s Horizon.

Degenfelder visited the school on Monday, April 7. Her visit began with a private meeting with Horizon’s educators, followed by an assembly with school district administration, Horizon staff, students and guests. Sen. Wendy Schuler, R-Evanston, was among the guests celebrating Horizon’s success.

Before introducing Degenfelder, Horizon principal Bren Payne publicly accepted a donation of $750 from representatives of the Festival for Families who were attending the event.

“Our special guest today is the leader of the Wyoming Department of Education,” Payne said. “This is an elected position, and she is one of the youngest people ever elected to it. She attended the University of Wyoming, where she was student body president and captain of the rugby team. She has also studied in China and is well versed in economics. She volunteers in many capacities, coaches the UW women’s rugby team, is a cancer survivor, helps rescue dogs and loves spending time outdoors.”

Degenfelder then addressed the audience.

“Our choosing Horizon to visit should be no surprise,” Degenfelder said, “because Horizon’s namesake is all about looking ahead, out into the future. This is a lesson my dad taught me when my mom passed away a few months ago: When dark times come upon us, it is natural for us to want to chase the sun as it is setting, no matter how quickly it is escaping us, but the bravest thing you can do is to turn around and face directly into the darkness, because that is where the sun is going to come up. So, no matter how dark it is, remember it is that horizon that will bring you light. Keep doing what you are doing and congratulations on your community service which included helping both the young and the elderly.”

Following Degenfelder’s address, she and the other guests visited two long tables set up with photos of the different agencies and places where the students had given community service time. Students lined up behind the tables explained what they had done at that particular community service event.

Time periods at Horizon are divided up into octants, which span a month’s time. During each octant, community service events take place along with one activity day.

Horizon students’ community service activities included: corn shucking for USCD #1 food service department; volunteering at Rocky Mountain Care; painting at Ottley Park; painting a house; holding a Halloween carnival for elementary school students; preparing food for Jody’s Diner for its free Thanksgiving dinner; delivering meals and interacting with the elderly at the local senior center; playing with children at both ECDC and LUCDA; shoveling snow in the community; helping set up for the Celtic Festival; and filling Easter eggs with local police officers for their annual egg hunt. Fun activities included disc golf, bowling, movies and volleyball.

After Degenfelder and other guests finished visiting the community service tables, they then got the opportunity to visit with a few of the students, who had participated as interns with local businesses and organizations. The student interns and their mentors answered questions and explained the program.

Businesses and interns represented at Degenfelder’s Tour of Excellence visit included: the Uinta County Herald, City Drug, UTLX (Union Tank Car), Clark Elementary Media Center and Evanston Regional Hospital radiology department.

Degenfelder and her staff visited with each of the students at the tables, giving each one time to share their stories. She congratulated and thanked each student before leaving to travel to her next school visit.