Alumni Spotlight – Jada Antelope

Raised in Ethete on the Wind River Indian Reservation, Jada Antelope is an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe who has always felt a strong connection to community, family, and the outdoors. Outside of school, you’ll find her spending time with family, cooking and baking, hiking, camping, backpacking, or riding her bike. As an aunt to three nephews and three nieces, she’s especially passionate about sharing her love of outdoor recreation with the next generation.

Jada earned her Associate of Applied Science in Expedition Science and Outdoor Recreation through Central Wyoming College’s Alpine Science Institute, a program that blended her interests in environmental science and outdoor adventure. Her educational journey wasn’t a straight line. After graduating high school, she began studying anthropology in 2017 but eventually stepped away to work with the Montana Conservation Corps. It was there that she met a former CWC student who introduced her to Jacki Klancher and the opportunities available through the Lander Center and the Alpine Science Institute.

The program’s unique collaborations — including partnerships with the National Outdoor Leadership School and the University of Wyoming in East Africa — immediately caught her attention. With a background in conservation and a growing interest in environmental science and outdoor recreation, CWC felt like the perfect fit.

Jada’s favorite part of being a student was the tight-knit community at the Alpine Science Institute. Nestled just below Sinks Canyon, the campus offered a beautiful and inspiring setting for learning. Courses took her from the Wind River Mountains to the Himalayas in Nepal — hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, and camping while earning college credit along the way. These hands-on, field-based experiences opened doors professionally as well, helping her build lasting connections with the U.S. Forest Service.

Balancing school with family responsibilities was her greatest challenge. Living close to home meant being present when family health needs arose. She learned how to create time and space for her studies while continuing to show up for those she loves — a lesson in resilience and boundaries that will serve Jada well in the future.

Scholarship support made a tremendous difference in her journey. Financial assistance allowed her to live on campus and focus fully on classes and expedition coursework without the constant stress of tuition and housing costs. Jada carries deep gratitude for those who invested in her education.

When asked about mentors, Jada is quick to share appreciation for the many faculty and staff who supported her — especially Jacki Klancher, along with Mara Gans, Darran Wells, and Kathryn Primrose. Whether in class or during long homework sessions at the Lander Center, they showed up consistently, offering guidance, encouragement, and practical support. Jacki, in particular, has been a mentor throughout her journey and holds a special place in Jada’s heart.

Looking ahead, she is set to attend the University of Wyoming in fall 2026 to pursue a degree in Geographic Information Systems & Technology with a minor in Geography, with plans to continue on to a master’s degree in GIST. If you ask Jada where she sees herself in five years, she smiles: back at the Lander Center, teaching for Central Wyoming College, mentoring students, and giving back to the program that gave her so much.

Jada is especially passionate about increasing outreach to tribal members on the reservation so more students are aware of the opportunities available through the Alpine Science Institute. The program has been transformative in her life, and she hopes to be part of its continued growth — particularly in advancing diversity and inclusion efforts.

For Jada, Central Wyoming College wasn’t just a place to earn a degree. It was a community, an adventure, and the beginning of a lifelong commitment to education, the outdoors, and service.