MESA, Arizona – Mesa Community College’s 2015 American Indian Academic Conference on April 30 featured Arizona State University's Director of American Indian Studies, John Tippeconnic, and 14 students who presented academic papers.
Conference officials awarded scholarships ranging from $50-$700 to all 14 candidates. Talia White of MCC’s American Indian Institute and MCC student Dendrick Jones served as co-masters of ceremony.
Tippeconnic, a member of the Comanche tribe and also part Cherokee, encouraged students to continue to learn by listening, observing and doing, while fighting to keep a native focus and presence in academics. He shared his personal history as a native student who attended boarding schools where he was not permitted to speak his native language. He told students he was still able to learn valuable lessons taught by his parents and elders.
The top five student award recipients were: Navajo tribe members Tia Abe, Summer Charley, Mishawn Hardy and Jamie Tsosie, plus Mariah Charlie of the Hopi/Tewa tribe.
Tsosie presented a paper on her daughter, titled Kaytlynn, a heartwarming and emotional story that discussed the challenges of acute myeloid leukemia.
Mishawn Hardy spoke about her experience as a young teenage mother who finished high school with a child, having given birth at the age of 15.
Mariah Charlie presented her paper, titled Summer 2012, a detailed the experience of losing her brother to cirrhosis of the liver nearly three years prior.
Other student award recipients include: Alex Alejandre of the Salt River tribe; Navajo tribe members Verlyn Begay, Chelsie Begoody, Briana Clah, Sean Etsitty, Kyndell Kelly, Brian Lee and Shelle Yellowhorse; plus Andrew Rios of the Tohono O’odham tribe.
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Contact: Dawn Zimmer, 480-461-7892, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu
About The American Indian Institute
Mesa Community College’s American Indian Institute helps to minimize the cultural distance associated with transition when a student leaves their home area. The Institute provides American Indian students a support and resource center with an awareness of Native customs and culture. The support services offered by Aii/AIC include tools to assist and encourage students to become active participants in their educational planning. For additional information, visit http://www.mesacc.edu/students/american-indian-institute.
About Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College is nationally recognized for its high-quality educational programs, which include university transfer, career and technical, workforce development, and life-long learning. Host to 40,000 students annually, MCC offers more than 200 degrees and certificates at its two campuses and additional locations. Our diverse student body hails predominantly from the East Valley region of metropolitan Phoenix, and international students from 50 countries enrich the learning experience. Award-winning faculty dedicated to student success provide the education and training that empower MCC students to compete locally and globally. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015, MCC is one of 11 colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District. For additional information, visit mesacc.edu.
Mesa Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association (NCA) website: http://www.ncahlc.org
The Maricopa County Community College District is an EEO/AA institution and an equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.