UW American Indian Studies Program Recognizes Students

May 18, 2006 -- Emma Hansen, curator of the Plains Indian Museum in Cody and an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation, was the featured speaker at a recent celebration honoring 2006 University of Wyoming American Indian Studies (AIS) Program graduates and next year's scholarship recipients.

"I suggest you find out what you truly want to do with your life and then pursue it rather than limit yourself to someone else's circle of ideas of what you should be doing," said Hanson.

"As students, you chose to leave your community to attend the University of Wyoming. You have already taken a step -- probably not your first step -- but taken a step into a different world," she continued.

"Many of you no doubt feel that you have a responsibility to yourself to advance in that world as well as a responsibility to serve your own community in some way," she said, noting that there are many ways to either directly or indirectly benefit the tribal communities after graduation.

Oliver Walter, dean of the UW College of Arts and Sciences, welcomed tribal leaders and representatives from the Arapaho and Shoshone nations to the celebration. He also credited AIS Program Director Judy Antell for "developing UW's most established minority program." Among the many accomplishments, he said, is internationalizing the AIS Program by launching summer classes this summer to Mexico and New Zealand.

Little Sun Drum of Ethete performed throughout the event and elder Burton Hutchinson Sr. of the Northern Arapaho Tribe said opening and closing prayers. Antell and other faculty members recognized and presented blankets to the 2006 AIS graduates.

Graduates, listed by hometown and major, are:

Enid, Okla. -- Marla Williams, math and science and environmental and natural resources.

Ethete -- Jola Wallowing Bull, architectural engineering with structural emphasis; Aldora White, education, curriculum and instruction master's.

Fort Washakie -- Kerry Heavy Runner, education and instructional technology master's; Lisa Perry, rangeland ecology and watershed management.

Kinnear -- Vonda Wells, education, curriculum and instruction doctorate.

Laramie -- Rain Chippewa, psychology.

St. Stephens -- Janice Goggles, education.

Star Valley -- Skott Vigil, American history master's with American Indian history emphasis and AIS minor.

Scholarships for the 2006-07 academic year were awarded from the AIS program, the Northern Arapaho Endowment and the Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarship.
Scholarship recipients, listed by hometown and major, are:

Arapaho -- Felicia Antelope, anthropology senior, Frank and Cynthia McCarthy Scholarship,
Northern Arapaho Endowment and Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarship.

Buffalo -- Valerie Long, social science senior, Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarship.

Casper -- Kristopher Holbrook, sociology sophomore, Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarship.

Fort Washakie -- Josephine Bell, physical education junior, Northern Arapaho Endowment and Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarship; Jordan Dresser, journalism junior, and Gerald Loneman, social science junior, both Northern Arapaho Endowment; Brooke Enos, elementary education senior, Katherine Hirchak, sociology junior, Amanda LeClair, English sophomore, Rita Phillips, social work graduate student, and Suzanna Phillips, criminal justice junior, all Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarships.

Kinnear -- Monica Aragon, social science junior, Sylvia McKee, social work graduate student, Karen Smith, criminal justice junior, and Norman Tidzump, secondary education senior, all Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarships.

Lander -- Blanche Friday, interdisciplinary Ph.D., Northern Arapaho Endowment; Reinette Curry, elementary education junior, and Hirchell LeClair, animal science sophomore, both Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarships.

Riverton -- Chelsey Cottenoir, elementary education senior, Frank and Cynthia McCarthy Scholarship and Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarship; Cameron Means, psychology junior, and John Montoya, civil engineering junior, both Northern Arapaho Endowment and Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarships; Jan Keith, psychology senior, and Arnella Oldman, undeclared senior, both Chief Washakie Memorial Scholarships.

Rock Springs -- Robert Guhl, engineering, Robert W. Winner Memorial Scholarship.

Seward, Alaska -- Siri E. Gillespie, psychology, Frank and Cynthia McCarthy Scholarship.

Worland -- Leslie A. Wheeless, nursing, John and Ada Thorpe Scholarship.

Photo

Native Ceremony -- Jola Wallowing Bull, a University of Wyoming architectural engineering graduate from Ethete, takes time to reflect during the recent UW American Indian Studies Program celebration honoring 2006 graduates and next year's scholarship recipients. (UW Photo)

Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006