News

Some Eagles Fly Higher

As many of you already know, Dr. Don Day has left St. Cloud State University. Don is now the President of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet, Minnesota. Dr. Day has given most of his adult life to Indian Education and continues to soar onward and upward. From his humble beginning as an Indian Education Counselor to his current position as a college president, Don has remained steadfast to his beliefs that the students come first. His legacy will live on at SCSU in the programs he has implemented and the people he has touched. We at the American Indian Center wish him well.

Keeping the Circle Strong

Mentor-Tutor Program

The American Indian Center now has services available for students in need of mentoring and/or tutoring. The Center has three mentors (all undergraduate students) who are assigned to seek out and bring American Indian students into the Center or other places on campus which will improve their comfort level, social integration, and academic performance. The Center has one tutor available for anyone needing help with math. The Mentor-Tutor Program has been established to improve the overall retention rates of American Indian students on campus. For more information on this program, or if you need a math tutor, please call 320-308-5449 to set up an appointment.

Financial Aid

Boozhoo! Once again it's time to start thinking about your financial aid for next year. You will be getting a renewal form in the mail if you have received financial aid this year. If you are not currently getting financial aid, but are going to apply, now is the time. Some awards are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please, do not wait! With the change in Minnesota Indian Scholarship Program, time could be of the essence. Remember the new address for Minnesota Indian Scholarships is MN Dept. of CFL, Office of Indian Education, 1500 Highway 36, Roseville, MN 55113-4266. Their fax number is 651-582-8879.

Get your financial aid paperwork completed as soon as possible. If you need assistance in completing the forms or if you have any questions about financial aid, call Tom or Diane at the Center, 320-308-5449.

Resource Library

Located in the American Indian Center is a small resource library which contains books, manuscripts, audiotapes, videotapes, journal articles, and newspapers focused on American Indians throughout the United States. The Center allows some of the materials to be checked out, while others can be studied, but not checked out of the Center.

Capital Campaign

As the number of American Indian students rise at SCSU, the use of the Center by faculty, staff, and students is increasing. Every time we have a social, cultural, or ceremonial event at the Center, we are packed to the point where not everyone can safely or comfortably fit into the Center at once. We are outgrowing the Center as it is physically constructed now.

It is the intent of the American Indian Center director and staff to begin a fundraising capital campaign to double the size of the American Indian Center. With the economy in a recession and state budgets extremely tight, we decided that we would not go after Minnesota State Legislative appropriations that would compete with other institutional needs. Instead, we will focus the capital campaign success on support from foundations, businesses, tribal governments, and individual contributions. Based on very preliminary figures, we anticipate a need of approximately $250,000 to complete the renovation of the Center.

Doubling the size of the Center will allow for two more office spaces, an expansion of our kitchen services, more room for our resource library, more computer room space, and a Great Hall which can be used as a classroom or lecture hall, or be used for social, cultural, and ceremonial activities. The addition would be round reflecting the round houses Ojibwe people used throughout the Upper Great Lakes area. The new Center will reflect the traditions and cultures of American Indians in Minnesota and be a signature building for St. Cloud State University.

For more information on the capital campaign or to donate to this initiative, contact Tom Andrus at 320-308-5449. (Tom's e-mail address is tandrus@stcloudstate.edu).

18th Annual MIEA Conference

The 18th Annual Minnesota Indian Education Association Conference will be held at the Shooting Star Casino & Event Center in Mahnomen, Minnesota on October 8-10, 2003. This is the second largest Indian Education conference in Minnesota with more than 500 participants.

MIEA is administered by 18 volunteers from across the state representing elementary through graduate schools. This year’s conference reflects the need for Indian educators to work with each other for betterment of Indian students and programs for everyone. If interested in attending the MIEA Conference, contact the American Indian Center, or visit the website at http://www.mniea.org.

In the Spotlight

Shirley Kampa has actively supported American Indian education through work and personal endeavors for many years. After earning a bachelor's degree from Concordia College in St. Paul, MN, she became an alumna of St. Cloud State University on May 10, 2002 by receiving a master's degree in Special Education.

She's worked as an Indian Education Advisor for the Anoka-Hennepin School District for the past 12 years and as an Intern Counselor at Anoka High School.

Kampa taught English as a second language at Anoka High School during the summer of 2002. She was on loan for one year with the Department of Children, Families and Learning in the Office of Indian Education as a Community Program Specialist. Prior to that, she worked as an Assurance of Mastery teacher and in the field of Special Education (Level 5). Along with her higher education degrees, Kampa has held a Minnesota standard teaching license for K-12 Ojibwe Language and Culture.

Kampa received the Minnesota Indian Education Association's Post-Secondary Student of the Year Award (1999) and Outstanding American Indian Counselor Award (1996, 1997). Kampa's plan is to obtain a doctorate in Educational Administration. Kampa is a wonderful role model for American Indian youth and adults alike.

She is the mother of three grown children. Her son Robert Rosten, a junior at SCSU, is pursuing a degree in education as well. Kampa resides in Ramsey, Minnesota with her husband Tim.

American Indian Graduates
Fall Semester 2001
Willy Ann Heisler	BS - Social Work
Lisa Mehtala	BA - Community Development
Spring Semester 2002
Shannon Dellamonica	BA - History
Jason Eischens	BS - Technology Assessment & Management
Cindi Heying	BS - Electrical Engineering
Ella Paul	BS - Elementary Education
Jammie Thomas	BS - Marketing
Justus Uphus	BS - Aviation

Lawrence Receives Outstanding American Indian Student Award at 4th Annual Awards Dinner

The American Indian Awards Banquet held on April 9 recognized both students who graduated and students who achieved high honors during the academic year. Dan Jones, Ojibwe language professor at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, gave the keynote address to over one hundred people who attended. During the awards program, Kathy Lawrence was named the Outstanding American Indian student. She was recognized for her service and leadership abilities and presented with a $200 stipend.

Lawrence served as co-chair of the American Indian Student Organization, is an active member of the Powwow Committee, and volunteers for numerous community activities. Lawrence, a student pursuing a major in nursing, will enter her senior year at SCSU this fall semester. Congratulations!

Academic Award Recipients Spring Semester 2001 Fall Semester 2001 Students who attained a scholarship average of 3.0 honor points or higher for spring and/or fall semester 2001
William Aitkin	Willy Ann Heisler	Brenda Jo Peterson
Whitney Bell	Charita Hentz	Tesha Peterson
Gabriel Champagne	Cindi Lou Heying	Kimberly Rivers
Margaux Cheeseman	Katherine Lawrence	Kimberly Rrobideau
Shannon Dellamonica	Kathleen McConnell	Andrea Tholkes
Gina Douglas	Lisa Mehtala	Lance Thompson
Emily Engelhardt	Jenny Modich	Larry Traversie
Aaron Evans	Jeremy Mohawk	Tiffany Trottier
Michelle Fluto	Necole Morris	Gregory Trunk
Craig Fuller	Cynthia Muchacho	Matthew Vogel
Robert Gardner	Peter Nayquonabe	Eric Whitman
Trisha Cook Hanson	Ella Paul