(Riverton, Wyo.) – The Central Wyoming College Sinks Canyon Center outside of Lander has a new name today. In action by the Board of Trustees Tuesday night, the facility was renamed the Alpine Science Institute.
“The name change better reflects current and future academic programming, research initiatives and youth programming originating at this location,” wrote Vice President for Administrative Services Willie Noseep and Director of Marketing Lori Ridgway in a memo to President Dr. Brad Tyndall. “The name change also reflects the ongoing development of innovative educational and research programs at CWC under the umbrella of the Alpine Science Institute.”
Ridgway told the board that the name change is a marketing opportunity for the college. “It will give the center a broader appeal and eliminate any confusion with Sinks Canyon State Park,” she said. “It will be the umbrella for all the programs that are conducted there now and into the future.”
Tyndall also said the name change would be beneficial for fund raising and visibility of the college’s programs regionally and nationally. He noted that the college’s internationally recognized Archeology program in the Wind River Range and the Interdisciplinary Climate Change Expedition (ICCE) efforts of the past several years have put CWC “on the scientific map.” Tyndall noted that the college’s programs have been written up in Scientific American magazine and students have presented to international scientists in Austria, to mention just a few accomplishments.
“It also gives us the opportunity to grow our programs there,” he said.
In a related action item, the trustees approved a recommendation from the President that established a “guidance document” for naming rights of campus facilities. Tyndall said the document was proposed by the college’s new Foundation Director Beth Monteiro to assist the college’s fund raising efforts.