Skip to main content

Coyote Ridge Elementary and Gilchrist Elementary receive Purple Star award

Posted Date: 10/14/26 (09:17 AM)
View Original Post


Four adults proudly hold a large banner that reads "WE ARE A WYOMING PURPLE STAR SCHOOL!" before an audience of seated children.
Gilchrist Elementary
Three people proudly hold a large banner that reads "We Are a Wyoming Purple Star School! Honoring and Supporting Our Military Students."Coyote Ridge Elementary

Coyote Ridge Elementary and Gilchrist Elementary are the most recent additions to the Wyoming Purple Star Program’s recognized schools.  

The Wyoming Purple Star Program recognizes the efforts of kindergarten through 12th grade schools that are committed to and supportive of military students and their families as they transition to their new homes and schools. 

“When you’re a military kid and you have to be the new kid all the time, that takes a lot of courage, and we want to recognize that,” Maj. Gen. Gregory C. Porter said.
Coyote Ridge and Gilchrist join Central High, East High, South High, McCormick Junior High, Anderson Elementary, Arp Elementary, Freedom Elementary and Jessup Elementary as Purple Star schools. Laramie County School District 1 schools make up 10 of the 11 Purple Star schools in Wyoming. 

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon spoke at Gilchrist’s award ceremony, and Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder spoke at both the Coyote Ridge award ceremony and the Gilchrist award ceremony. 

“Our education system isn’t just about preparing you to memorize things from your textbooks, it’s about ensuring that you are becoming good American citizens,” Degenfelder said. 

“Thank you for being members of military families. Thank you for being classmates of folks who are in the military community and thank you for always caring for our great country,” Gordon said.