GILLETTE, Wyo. — Wyoming Department of Corrections Director Daniel Shannon announced today the recipients of several awards.
Laura Vaselin, a probation and parole agent in the Casper Field Office, is the Employee of the Year, and Sgt. Mathew Abraham Ian, from the Wyoming Honor Farm, has been selected as the Officer of the Year, the department said in a news release. Lt. Christopher Thompson with the Wyoming State Penitentiary is the Trainer of the Year.
“The WDOC is extremely grateful for the dedication Lieutenant Thompson, Agent Vaselin and Sgt. Abraham have shown. It is seen in their day-to-day efforts, inside institutions and in the community,” the department said. “All three are role models for staff, offenders and community members alike.”
The release said Vaselin and Abraham were among 13 staff who were previously selected as employees and officers of the year from their respective correctional facility or field region:
- Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp: Mandy Jerry and Officer Gary Ridenour
- Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution: Sheri Daly and Sgt. Fernando De La Torre
- Wyoming State Penitentiary: Jessica Martinez and Sgt. Haley Viau
- Wyoming Women’s Center: Bill Shoup and Sgt. Kelsey Peterson
- Wyoming Honor Farm: Kylie Cook and Sgt. Mathew Abraham
- Central Office: Anne Fowler
- Field Services: Laura Vaselin (South Region) and Vi Gardner (North Region)
Gov. Mark Gordon hosted a luncheon May 4 in Cheyenne that included recognizing the Wyoming Department of Corrections’ employee, officer and trainer of the year, according to the news release. Gordon signed a proclamation honoring Correctional Professionals Week, which occurred May 8–12, and thanked employees for their dedicated hard work, commitment and sacrifice to the department and Wyomingites. The department recognized the employees May 11.
