CYNTHIA LUMMIS

U.S. SENATOR, WYOMING

Cynthia Lummis was sworn into the United States Senate on January 3, 2021, becoming the first woman to serve as United States Senator from the great State of Wyoming.

​

First elected to the U.S. House in 2008, Senator Lummis quickly earned her reputation as a no-nonsense conservative and principled policymaker. After departing U.S. House of Representatives in 2016, Senator Lummis operated her family’s cattle ranches, and the Sweetgrass development in Laramie County, with her brother and sister. Prior to serving in the House of Representatives, Senator Lummis spent eight years as Wyoming State Treasurer and 14 years as a member of the Wyoming State House and Senate. 

JOHN BARRASSO, M.D.

U.S. SENATOR, WYOMING

John Barrasso, M.D., has a long and distinguished career in both medicine and public service. He was appointed to the Senate in 2007, continued to serve after a special election in 2008, and was re-elected in 2012. He is the fourth-ranking member in the Senate Republican leadership as Chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. He currently serves on the Energy and Natural Resources, Environment and Public Works, Indian Affairs, and Foreign Relations Committees.

Senator Barrasso is known by many as Wyoming’s Doctor. During his 24 years as an orthopedic surgeon, Barrasso served as President of the Wyoming Medical Society, a rodeo physician for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and was named Wyoming Physician of the Year.

LIZ CHENEY

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, WYOMING

Liz Cheney was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016. She serves on the House Armed Services, Natural Resources, and Rules Committees.

Prior to her election to Congress, Representative Cheney served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Middle East. She also practiced law at White & Case, was a Fox News Contributor, and the co-founder of two non-profit organizations: Keep America Safe and Alliance for a Strong America, focused on educating voters about the importance of American leadership in the world. She is the co-author, along with Vice President Cheney, of Exceptional: Why The World Needs a Powerful America, and a member of the International Board of Advisors at the University of Wyoming.

SARAH COMPTON

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

​

​

Sarah has lived in Cheyenne for 17 years and before coming to the Wyoming Congressional Award Council worked at STRIDE Learning Center with a diverse workload that included fundraising and compliance. She has four children, 2 grown and 2 teens still at home. She enjoys live music, participating in local  theatre productions and is on the Friday Food Bag Foundation board.  Sarah believes with all her heart that people and communities can be changed by simple actions and feels strongly that the Congressional Award is a program that furthers that.  Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Sarah knows that the Congressional Award gives young people an opportunity to stretch their skills and measure their progress encouraging them to be that change, and hopes to see the program grow to include every county in Wyoming.

Sally Morse

PROGRAM MANAGER

Sally@wcac.us

Sally Morse is a Wyoming native who hopes to help grow the Wyoming Congressional Award program.  She worked for Laramie County School District 1 in the Special Services Department, where she enjoyed teaching assistive technology to help students with special needs have access to tools they needed to be successful in school. She hopes to see more students with special needs achieve the Congressional Award. She is a graduate of the University of Wyoming.  She has have lived in Cheyenne for 22 years. 

PAT THOMAS

PRESIDENT

Casper, Wyoming

Pat Thomas retired in 2017 as the Senior Vice President of State Government Affairs for UPS. He and his wife, Kathy returned to Casper and are active with charitable organizations, golf, friends and are recent grandparents. Pat is the current President of the Board of the Wyoming Congressional Award Council.

In addition, Pat served as the Chairman of the American Trucking Associations from October 2015 until October 2016. Thomas has also served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board (TRB). Before joining UPS, Pat worked as a commercial pilot for various private corporations flying both people and cargo to airports throughout the U.S. He is also a certified flight instructor and has trained pilots. He earned a B.S. in Aviation Management from Southern Illinois University.

BOB TARANTOLA

VICE PRESIDENT

Casper, Wyoming

Bob is a Wyoming native and graduate of the University of Wyoming who enjoyed a career working mostly in segments of the energy industry.  With a focus on public and governmental affairs, Bob ascended management levels at Pacific Power/Rocky Mountain Power/PacifiCorp retiring as the company’s Wyoming Vice President in 2006.  He then began a second career providing government affairs services to diversified utilities, and companies engaged in telecommunications, oil and gas, enhanced oil recovery, midstream pipeline transportation, and uranium production.  He retired from consulting in 2017.Bob was appointed to the WCAC Board in 1992 by Wyoming’s late U.S. Sen. Malcolm Wallop, who spearheaded a bipartisan effort in the U. S. Congress to establish the Congressional Award Act in 1979.   

KELLY PASCAL-GOULD

TREASURER

Sheridan, Wyoming

Kelly Pascal Gould has been a member of the Wyoming Congressional Award Council since 2012 and currently serves as treasurer. In addition to her involvement in the Council, she runs Pascal Public Relations and is actively involved in her children's education and extracurricular activities. In her free time, she leads annual player fundraising efforts at the M&M Center on Sheridan Ice, plays co-ed hockey and enjoys Pilates. 

KENDALL HARTMAN

SECRETARY

Sheridan, Wyoming

Kendall is an alumna of the University of Wyoming with a degree in political science. She has spent her career primarily in the public sector, working in the U.S. Senate and in non-profit management. She served as National Director of the Congressional Award Foundation and on its Board of Directors. She has served on numerous charitable boards and is currently a member of The Brinton Museum National Advisory Council and the Board of Visitors of UW’s College of Arts and Sciences,. She is married to Joseph and they live in Sheridan with their dog Comet.

JILLIAN BALOW

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Jillian is a fifth-generation Wyoming native. She taught for over a decade in Wyoming elementary and secondary classrooms and has worked to support children and families her entire career. She describes serving as State Superintendent as both the greatest challenge and honor of her life.

​

Jillian has an undergraduate degree in education from the University of Wyoming and a master’s degree in education from Regis University. In addition to teaching, Jillian has consulted in the private sector on education issues, served as an administrator at both the Wyoming Department of Education and Family Services, and was a policy advisor to Governor Matt Mead.

MICHELLE BUTLER

MEMBER

Sheridan, Wyoming

Michelle Butler is the Vice President of Corporate Development for EMIT Technologies, a world-class metal manufacturing company in Sheridan, WY. Prior to joining the company in 2019, Michelle attended the University of Wyoming and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both communication and political science. Following graduation, Michelle worked for U.S. Senator John Barrasso in his Sheridan, WY office and spent several years in the coal industry. Michelle and her husband Jade have two daughters, Kamryn and Kennedy. She enjoys spending time in the mountains with her family and always finds herself on the go with her two busy girls.

BRAD DILLER

MEMBER

Casper, Wyoming

Brad is a native Michigander. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Northern Michigan University in 1978. He moved to Casper, Wyoming, in 1979. After spending ten years as a teacher and coach, he attained his Master’s Degree from the University of Wyoming. He spent the remainder of his career as a school administrator in several schools in Natrona County. Brad believes that the Congressional Award provides a tremendous opportunity for Wyoming citizens to recognize and reward students for the outstanding work they do!

JOSH FULLER

MEMBER

Jackson, Wyoming

Josh is a Wyoming native and alum of the Leadership Wyoming Class of 2019. After graduating from Sheridan High School, he attended the University of Wyoming College of Engineering (B.S. 2010, M.S. 2012 – Civil Engineering). He currently serves as the Chief Business Officer for Jorgensen Associates, a full-service civil engineering firm in Jackson Hole. As a competitive ultramarathon runner, the mountainous playground of the Tetons provide the ideal location to practice his craft – when not pursuing the other endless opportunities to hunt, ski, climb, and fish.

DAULTON GRUBE

MEMBER

Rock Springs, Wyoming

Daulton Grube is a Congressional Award alumni, earning a Bronze, Silver, and Gold medal during his time in the program. A recent graduate of University of Wyoming, he is currently pursuing his medical degree through WWAMI Regional Medical Education.

DIANNE KIRKBRIDE

MEMBER

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Dianne Kirkbride has been a member of the Congressional Award Council for many years.  She has been active in numerous community organizations including serving as the board chair of Wyoming Regional Medical Center.  For the past 20 years, Dianne has worked in Senator Mike Enzi’s Cheyenne office and is now looking forward to retiring at the end of 2020.  Dianne has been an active Congressional Award Advisor since joining the board and is extremely proud of all her advisees and what they have accomplished for themselves and the wonderful things they have done for their communities. 

LAURA SCHMID-PIZZATO

MEMBER

Rock Springs, Wyoming

Bio coming soon

MARIANNA PIZZATO

MEMBER

Rock Springs, Wyoming

Bio coming soon