Minneapolis, Minn. – The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) joined the University of Minnesota on Sunday, May 7, to celebrate the graduation of this year’s Native American students who received scholarships from the SMSC. The 26 students make up the seventh group of graduates to receive SMSC scholarships and represent 18 tribes from across the United States.

The SMSC Endowed Scholarship is designed to support talented Native American students who have financial need and are seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees. This program is a part of the SMSC’s focus on preparing the next generation of Native Americans to help advance Indian Country in the years ahead.

Students, loved ones, and representatives of the SMSC and University of Minnesota gathered at the McNamara Alumni Center at the University’s Twin Cities campus for the graduation reception. Both SMSC Chairman Charlie Vig and Shakeer Abdullah, assistant vice president of the Office for Equity and Diversity at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, gave congratulatory remarks. Graduates were then honored with a star quilt from the SMSC while the local youth drum group Tinta Ottonwe performed an honor song.

^{SMSC Chairman Charles R. Vig speaking at the graduate reception.}

One of the speakers at the celebration was scholarship recipient Raven Ziegler, a member of the Lower

Brule Sioux Tribe, who is graduating with degrees in political science and sociology of law, criminology, and deviance, from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. “Despite possessing persistence and academic drive, I was concerned about my ability to obtain a bachelor degree based on financial difficulty,” she said. “With the gracious support of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, I was able to focus on my academics while simultaneously feeling supported by a local Indigenous community. The investments made by the Community are greatly appreciated, and allowed me to successfully graduate with a double major from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.”

The graduating students will soon receive undergraduate and graduate degrees in a range of majors, from tribal administration and governance to kinesiology, from three University of Minnesota campuses. Specifically:

• 14 students are undergraduates
• 12 students are graduate students
• 11 attended the Twin Cities campus
• 10 attended the Duluth campus
• 5 attended the Morris campus

The graduates include:

• Dwight Bero Jr., Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
• Victoria Black Horse (Novitsky), Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
• Lauretta Blakely, Moose Cree First Nation
• Brandi BlueArm, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
• Lucas Bratvold, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
• Benjamin Burk, White Earth Band of Ojibwe
• Jolene Chestnut, White Earth Band of Ojibwe
• Chase Christopherson, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe / Three Affiliated Tribes (MHA Nation)
• Jesse Cobell, Blackfeet Tribe
• Cole Folstad, White Earth Band of Ojibwe
• Sylvia Fred, Washoe Tribe
• Craig Gilbert, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
• Phillip Gullikson, Three Affiliated Tribes (MHA Nation)
• Taylor Heruth, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
• Isabella Houck, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
• Vanessa Johnston, Dakota descendant of Sisseton-Wahpeton / Lower Sioux
• Veronica Kingbird, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
• Kayla Kranitz, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
• Crystal Littlewolf, White Earth Band of Ojibwe
• Alexandra McDougall, White Earth Band of Ojibwe
• Francis Reed, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
• Samantha Shade, White Earth Band of Ojibwe
• Brandon Sheffler, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
• Mica Standing Soldier, Oglala Sioux Tribe
• Nathaniel Taylor, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
• Raven Ziegler, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe

Since 2009, more than 200 Native American students have received the SMSC Endowed Scholarship. The program was established with a $2.5 million gift from the SMSC, and the University of Minnesota matches the scholarship payouts from the endowment fund.

The application deadline for the 2017-2018 SMSC Endowed Scholarship program has passed and recipients will be announced this fall.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Indian tribe located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to Native American tribes and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise, and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County.

^{Top Photo: Graduating SMSC scholarship recipients (left to right): Lucas Bratvold, Veronica Kingbird, Nathaniel Taylor, Sylvia Fred, Mica Standing Soldier, Taylor Heruth, Jolene Chestnut, Victoria Black Horse, Jesse Cobell, and Raven Ziegler.}