Mary Gullikson Scholarship in Nursing

Originally from Newcastle, Wyoming, Mary Thorson Gullikson was the daughter of Harry and Inga Thorson. Mary’s father co-founded Black Hills Bentonite in 1947. Mary always wanted to be a nurse however, she was encouraged to pursue a degree in home economics. Mary attended Colorado Women’s College prior to coming to the University of Wyoming where she was encouraged to go into Dietetics with counsel received from her advisor at the College of Agriculture. After graduating in 1958, Mary had a Dietetic internship in California where she met her husband, David Gullikson (1929-2019). Mary, David, and their four children lived in California, Wyoming, Louisiana, and Colorado where they eventually settled in 1972. Gullikson credits her father’s fund-raising efforts on behalf of cancer organizations and her own bout with the disease at 28 for her passion to help others. Mary’s career as a dietician kept her in hospital and healthcare settings and, even in retirement, she’s remained very close to the healthcare field. She is a former President of the McKee Medical Center Foundation Board in Loveland, an organization that she and David have supported. Gullikson is described as “a vigorous advocate” of UW “who is proud of her education and who maintains a substantial loyalty and dedication” to the promotion of the university. “I believe that you need to make an investment of yourself to secure a good future for others,” she says. In 2003, Mary was named the College of Agriculture’s Outstanding Alumnus for 2003. She is also a past recipient of the UW Medallion Service Award and former member of the UW Foundation. Former College of Health Sciences Dean, Robert Kelley, credited Mary’s ongoing leadership and commitment to a $12.5 million appropriation from the Wyoming legislature to construct a new facility for the college in 2005. Her devotion to community service is ever present in her involvement with Loveland Rotary, PEO and as a Honorary member of the Loveland Community Foundation.