Landon Rau - 2022
The RRMS selection committee is so proud and honored to announce the recipient of the First Annual Rob Russell Memorial Scholarship is Landon Rau.
The committee is so happy to contribute to this young man’s journey as he continues his education at the University of Wyoming, where he will pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He represents everything the committee was hoping to see in our applicants. You’ll want to keep your eye on this young man, we are confident he will do some great things!
Through his Middle and High School careers, Landon participated in Swim Team, Nordic Ski Team, Lacrosse, Football, and Park County Youth Cycling. He discovered a passion for playing the trumpet, worked his way to lead trumpet and lettered four consecutive years. He was a member of the Allstate Band for three years and participated in the Northwest Honor Bands. He also completed his life-long dream of joining and touring with the Casper Troopers Drum and Bugle Corp. He has auditioned and will join them again for this summer's tour. He continues to volunteer as a bugler for the VFW. In addition to all these accomplishments, he is employed and is a Junior Coach for Park County Youth Cycling.
Landon has earned a very honorable 3.991 GPA.
Reference letters on his behalf describe him as “very respectful when advocating for himself and others,” “A role-model for peers and staff alike,” “pushes himself, works toward his goals constantly,” “finds joy in working with others and sets a standard of positivity, integrity and grit that is extremely hard for the average person to emulate.”
Scholarship Recipient
2022
Landon Rau, the very first recipient of the Rob Russell Memorial Scholarship has graduated with Bachelor of Science in Engineering from University of Wyoming. He will be pursuing a Masters in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Mechanics of Materials, Material Science, and Aerodynamics at the University of Wyoming.
UPDATE - 2026
"We are proud to have had you represent the spirit of this scholarship from the very beginning, and we are excited to see where your future takes you. We are so proud of your accomplishments and are honored to have been a part of your successful journey."
- Julie Good & Toni Murray, Rob Russell's sisters
"Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering proved to be one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. Assignments piled up, and coincidentally, so did sleepless nights. As the rings under my eyes grew darker, motivation dwindled. Yet even in those overwhelmed and delirious states, I never allowed myself the thought of quitting. I cannot speak for the motivations of my peers who were right alongside me in the computer lab well past midnight, but one of my greatest driving forces was the support and generosity of my local community, especially the incredible support provided by this committee. There was no way I was going to let down an organization that, from the beginning, expressed so much confidence in my ability to succeed and provided the means to do so. Because of this support I was able to focus on my studies while continuing my passion for the trumpet through the University’s Jazz Band, participating in the University’s various clubs and intramural activities, and improving my overall health and fitness. I am deeply grateful for everything this organization has done for me. It has been an honor to strive for excellence in Rob’s name."
-Landon Rau, 2026
Encouraging Others by Modeling Integrity, Sincerity, Humbleness and Great Success
In awarding this scholarship, the selection committee was very mindful to choose a recipient who embodies respect for others, kindness and integrity, as Rob did. Landon has certainly demonstrated that he has these qualities along with the drive to succeed in whatever he puts his mind to. We are so honored to be a small part of what we predict will be a very successful career. He will most definitely be a huge contribution to society.
A huge Thank You goes out to all of our Donors for making this possible!
