Taking a chance to pay it forward

LCCC alumnus turns personal experience into opportunity through a donor-funded scholarship 

When Tim Cowley enrolled at Laramie County Community College in the fall of 1974, the campus was still young and compact, and his plans were anything but settled. A Cheyenne native and graduate of Cheyenne East High School, Cowley arrived knowing only that he wanted a college education and that construction work was not the future he envisioned for himself. 

That uncertainty was paired with opportunity. Tuition scholarships covered Cowley’s coursework at LCCC, leaving him responsible only for books. For a first-generation college student living at home and working part time, that support mattered.  

“I applied for every tuition scholarship I could, and that made all the difference,” he said. “All I really had to worry about were books, and that took a huge amount of pressure off. It let me focus on school instead of constantly worrying about how I was going to pay for it.” 

With firsthand knowledge of how scholarship support can open doors, Cowley established the Timothy E. Cowley Scholarship through the LCCC Foundation. As one of the Foundation’s donor-funded scholarships, it helps students manage the cost of college while extending the kind of opportunity that once shaped his own path. 

College did more than provide coursework. Quiet by nature, Cowley remembers classroom moments that pushed him beyond routine and into engagement. A sociology class debate about personal priorities sparked a level of discussion he had never experienced before, breaking the ice and changing how he viewed learning. The experience left an impression that stayed with him long after graduation in 1976. 

After completing his associate degree, Cowley transferred to the University of Wyoming. There, the reality of financial aid structures became clearer. Despite maintaining solid grades and supporting himself independently, scholarship eligibility was tied to parental income. Without access to aid, continuing his education was no longer possible. The path he had expected seemed to have closed. 

“It was a tough moment,” Cowley said. “I was very depressed and honestly didn’t know what came next. I knew I couldn’t keep going without the financial support, so everything I thought I was working toward suddenly changed.” 

At age 29, Cowley enlisted in the Wyoming Air National Guard, beginning a career defined by service, skill and responsibility. Over more than two decades, he earned multiple Air Force Specialty Codes and specialized in non-destructive inspection, a meticulous field responsible for evaluating the structural integrity of military aircraft. 

That work demanded precision and accountability. Cowley inspected aircraft ranging from A-10s and F-16s to C-130s and B-1 bombers, collaborating with engineers and maintenance crews to ensure safety and performance. The role carried weight, and he embraced it fully. When retirement came in 2015, it followed a career he valued deeply and a life shaped by service. 

Perspective arrived with time. After his parents passed away, Cowley found himself in a position to give back in a way he had not anticipated earlier in life. Thoughts returned to his own experience as a student who benefited from scholarships and to others who might lack the confidence or resources to advocate for themselves. 

“I wanted to help somebody who was in my situation,” Cowley said. “If you’re not boisterous enough to get out there and ask, it’s easy to get stuck, and I didn’t want that to be the end of the road for someone.” 

Through the LCCC Foundation, donor-established scholarships like Cowley’s connect individual experiences to institutional support. Each scholarship reflects personal values while contributing to a broader network of assistance that helps students stay enrolled, remain focused and continue moving toward their goals when financial barriers arise. 

Letters from scholarship recipients have reinforced that decision. Reading about students continuing their education, finding direction and gaining confidence has confirmed the purpose behind the gift. Recognition, Cowley notes, is not the point.  

He only hopes the scholarship serves as momentum rather than a finish line. Education opened doors he could not have imagined as a young student navigating an uncertain future.  

“I don’t even care if they know who gives them the money,” Cowley said. “What matters is that it helps them keep going and accomplish what they set out to do.”