Oyster Ridge BOCES Director Mike Clark was the recipient of the Wyoming Lifelong Learning Association’s Distinguished Service Award at its recent State Convention in Cheyenne. The award was presented to Clark by WLLA President Jeannie Fullmer. Dr. Clark was also recently the recipient of the Mountain Plains Adult Education Association’s Award of Excellence. MPAEA is an eight State Professional Organization for Adult Educators. “When it rains it pours” said Clark when asked how he felt to receive the two most prestigious honors given to Adult Educators in the Rocky Mountain West. The Distinguished Service Award is presented to a person who has exemplified, promoted, and supported the WLLA concept and philosophy in the community and the State. This award is presented to a member of WLLA for outstanding service furthering the work of WLLA and positively impacting lifelong learning in Wyoming.

“Seriously,” Clark said, “it is very rewarding when approaching the end of your career to be recognized by your peers for the contributions you made to the field. It’s like, wow, somebody noticed, I guess I have made a difference. I’m humbled and grateful that out of all the hardworking and diligent practitioners in Adult Education that I was selected for these honors”.

When presenting the award President Fullmer read the following citation:

Michael Clark has spent the last 30 years in the field of education. He received his Associates degree in 1973, his Bachelors degree in 1977, Masters in 1985 and his Doctorate in 2001.

He has been the Western Wyoming College Outreach Coordinator since 1991 and was selected to become the first Director of the Oyster Ridge BOCES when it was created in 1997. Clark has served on the Boards of the Wyoming Lifelong Learning Association, the Mountain Plains Adult Education Association, the Wyoming Government Investment Fund and is the Founder and current President of the Association of Cooperative Educational Services. Clark is also a presenter at numerous Adult Education Conferences including the MPAEA, WLLA , the Communal Studies Association and the Symposium for Graduate Study in Adult Education.

He has continued to publish his research in various forms including articles in the Journal of Adult Education, Utopian Studies, and recently in the Encyclopedia of American Social Movements where he authored a chapter on Robert Owen and the New Harmony Movement.

Clark was included in the Marquis Publication of Whos Who for the 1997 through 2000 editions. He continues to teach for Western Wyoming College and also teaches Graduate Courses online for the University of Wyoming in Adult Education.

He is most proud of his involvement with the Oyster Ridge Music Festival which received the 24th Annual Governor’s Art Award. This was only the second time a music festival has been so honored in the Awards 25 year history.