CASPER, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming said on Monday, May 3 that they will be conferring honorary doctoral degrees on two individuals during their up-coming May 14-15 commencement ceremonies. UW said the honorary degrees are the highest award that they give to people.
UW will confer the honorary degrees on “Jim Magagna, the longtime executive vice president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and advocate for Wyoming ranchers; and recently deceased Northern Arapaho elder Crawford White Eagle Sr., who will be honored posthumously.”
Both will receive a “Doctor of Humane Letters” degree.
White Eagle died in Jan. 2020, according to UW. He was one of the Northern Arapaho’s ceremonial leaders.
“He served as a member of the Northern Arapaho Business Council and the Northern Arapaho Elders Council, working as a tireless advocate for preservation of the tribe’s language and culture,” UW said. “He also promoted the education of his people, helping establish the Northern Arapaho endowment for tribal students attending UW and helping create Wyoming Indian High School.”
“He was involved in many creative and collaborative efforts, serving as a language preservation consultant for the National Indian Education Association; leading a delegation involved in artifact identification at Yale University; and helping create the Wind River Education Project and the American Indian Education for All curriculum, among many other projects.”
White Eagle served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was twice wounded in combat, according to UW. He received a Purple Heart and other medals honoring him for his service.
“In keeping with his family ancestral legacy, Crawford White Eagle focused his life’s work on Arapaho cultural survival. … He harnessed ceremonial knowledge, traditional leadership, service and diplomacy to achieve his goals,” wrote James Trosper, director of UW’s High Plains American Indian Research Institute, and Greg Nickerson, Wyoming Migration Initiative writer and filmmaker. “Many of the good things occurring on the Wind River Indian Reservation and in Fremont County — and between the Northern Arapaho and state of Wyoming — can be traced back to (his) participation or guidance.”
“Mr. White Eagle focuses his life on serving his community and engages in this important work because he knows that his efforts will lead to a stronger future for all citizens of the state of Wyoming,” wrote Lee Spoonhunter, co-chairman of the Northern Arapaho Business Council. “At a time when we cannot have enough people who work to bring everyone together, Mr. White Eagle stands out as someone who constantly strives to build bridges — not for selfish reasons, but for the betterment of everyone.”
UW said that Magagna has been a leader with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association since 1998.
“A native of Rock Springs, Magagna is a lifelong sheep rancher in southwest Wyoming,” UW said. “Among other offices, he has served as president of the American Sheep Industry Association and president of the National Public Lands Council. He has represented the agriculture industry on numerous national, state and local councils and advisory boards.”
“In 2008, Magagna was inducted into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame. He was a recipient of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture Pacesetter Award and was recognized in 2007 by Gamma Sigma Delta as the Outstanding Agriculturalist.”
UW College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean Barbara Rasco said: “Jim’s background, life and career have influenced ranching, open space conservation, and state and federal policies that impact Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain West. He has dedicated his life to helping maintain Wyoming’s open spaces, preserve the Wyoming way of life, and advocate for many of the people and industries that call Wyoming home.”
UW said that their alumni, current or former trustees and faculty can nominate individuals to receive honorary degrees.
“Submissions are referred to a joint committee of trustees and faculty members, which forwards recommendations to the full Board of Trustees for approval,” UW says.
