SDSMT First Nations Students at Mines Newsletter

First Nations Students at Mines Newsletter South Dakota School of Mines and Technology American Indian Science & Engineering Society Chapter APRIL 2009

AISES Native Traditional Foods Booth Rocks Cultural Expo Over 500 people crammed into the Surbeck Ballroom on March 28 for the annual South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Cultural Expo. This was a record year!

Students and staff served foods and represented their respective countries together with song, stories, dance, and crafts.

The AISES Native booth was proudly represented this year by an educational, historical display on traditional Lakota foods provided by Rapid City Oglala Lakota author and entrepreneur, Geraldine Goes In Center. The

display perfectly complimented the Lakota native traditional foods served by the School of Mines AISES student volunteers: Jade Herman, Deanna Shoup, Adam Dell, and Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) Program Assistant Abena Songbird. The crowd was treated to three kinds of Lakota wojapi (or fruit pudding): chokecherry, plum, and blueberry (provided by Oglala Lakota community member Stephanie Big Crow, Black Hills Center for American Indian Heath clinical research assistant and Goes In Center), dried buffalo and corn meal wasna.

They also topped this off with Goes In Center‘s medicinal ceyaka (or mint) herbal tea.

Each food item had a description of its ingredients and uses by the Lakota in both historical and contemporary times. Many in the crowd returned for multiple servings and commented on the

Student volunteers Jade Herman and Deanna Shoup serve up wojapi, fry bread, corn meal wasna, and dried buffalo at 2009 Cultural Expo Booth. delicious taste of the dried buffalo.

Students fielded questions from curious students from other cultures about contemporary Indian life ways.

The booth was further enhanced by the exhibition dancing of Big Crow‘s two children: 9 year old Jingle Dress Dancer Ta'te Was'aka Win, (―Strong Wind Woman‖ ) or Breezy and Grass Dancer Wakinyan agli Inajin,(―He Stands Strong in a Thunderstorm‖) 10 year old Wayne. Both are proud members of the Oglala Lakota Nation.

AISES/OMA Hosts Spring Feathering Graduation Ceremony The School of Mines hosted it‘s second semi-annual feathering ceremony for Native graduates on May 8 in the Surbeck Ballroom. This new tradition began with December 2008 graduates Jade Herman, Will Kindle, and Jimmy Sanovia. Over 70 family, friends, students, and faculty attended this traditional way of honoring special achievement.

The ceremony, hosted by AISES and Office of

Multicultural Affairs (OMA), included honor songs from a Native drum group, prayers in Lakota by a Lakota elder veteran, smudging, tying on of feathers or plumes, presentation of star quilts, speeches, and traditional food. Speakers for May‘s ceremony included School of Mines President Robert Wharton, Ph.D., NIEA President Robert Cook, School of Mines faculty member Dr. Carter Kerk, and OMA coordinator Scott Wiley.

December 2008 Native graduates Jade Herman, William Kindle and James Sanovia Spring 2009 graduates were: Quana Higgins (Oglala, Lakota) B.S. civil engineering; Myrna Littlewolf, (Chippewa) B.S. industrial engineering.

(Continued on page 6)

Special points of interest: NATIVE STUDENT BIOS ADAM DELL QUANA HIGGINS DEANNA SHOUP

Inside this issue: AISES STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

2, 5

AISES - STUDENT BIOS SPOTLIGHTS

2, 3, 6, 7

AISES ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

4,5

AISES—RAPID CITY CLUB FOR BOYS

6, 8

1, 6 NATIVE SPRING FEATHERING CEREMONY TACO SALES SUCCEED

8

School of Mines Student Spotlight Adam Dell, Oglala, Rapid City Adam Dell, 21, is a junior majoring in interdisciplinary sciences (pre-professional health). He is the son of Viola (Oglala descendent) and Robert Dell. He is one of two siblings; his younger sister is a student at Rapid City Central High School.

Adam is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Central High School and the sole member of his family to pursue a degree in higher education (although his maternal grandmother did take some college coursework).

Adam‘s achievement is a real source of pride for his whole family.

His interest in medicine stems primarily from his own experiences and dissatisfaction with the Indian Health Services (IHS) system. ―I have a love of biology and chemistry and want to not only help people, but also educate them about addiction and substance abuse,‖ he noted. ―It is something that is really dominant in Native culture.‖ Adam plans to become an internist, and eventually a physician with a specialization in addiction medicine. He is

committed to remaining in South Dakota and hopes to apply his education in the IHS system.

Now in his third year at the School of Mines, Adam is maintaining a 3.40 average – the A-B range.

This year, Adam is studying organic chemistry and is considering a change in major from interdisciplinary sciences to chemistry as he says, ―I kind of have a love for it.‖ ―I‘m having a little trouble with physics but I‘m doing alright,‖ he says of his current semester classes. Scholarships have been crucial in paving Adam‘s way — he has received both state and Native American scholarships as well as a few from the School of Mines.

Adam has been the president of the School of Mines American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) chapter for the past three years and is helping to ensure its longevity and visibility for all of the university‘s Native American students. ―We‘ve been taking a group that was not established and helping to bring in as many members as possible to develop something good. I think it‘s something we are starting to finally do,‖ he says. ―Of course

it‘s going to take time.‖ Currently there are eight to 10 students active in the AISES program.

This number has remained consistent for the last three years.

Adam was inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society for professionals, though he is currently not actively involved.

AISES and his studies keep him Current AISES President tirelessly engaged, yet he also Adam Dell , IS Major finds time to offer his service as a (Oglala Lakota) tutor in both calculus and introductory chemistry. ―Being Native American at the School of Mines has been “I HAVE A LOVE difficult because it is a OF BIOLOGY AND predominantly white campus,‖ Adam said. ―There have been CHEMISTRY AND stereotypes and racial WANT TO NOT JUST discrimination, but the School of HELP PEOPLE BUT Mines is doing the best that they can to focus on campus climate EDUCATE THEM and you can see the changes in ABOUT ADDICTION the last three years I‘ve been here,‖ he says of his experience.

AND SUBSTANCE ―Being a Native American student, it‘s kind of nice to ABUSE.” represent the 2 percent population of this campus the best that I can. I hope to be more active in the Student Senate next year but I still have a voice on this campus as a Native American student.‖

AISES Members News - Student Achievements School of Mines AISES Members: Cameron Lafferty Kevin Fast Horse Richard LeBeau Myrna Littlewolf Clarita Begishe Cassandra Mauseth Dan Reynolds Charles Bush Season Frank Deanna Shoup Weewashte Conroy Katie Buchy Jacqueline DeMent Quana Higgins Jessica Chretien Adam Dell Shawndai Prue

Advisors: Rob Winter and Scott Wiley Program Assistant: Abena Songbird Richard LeBeau — M.S. Atmospheric Sciences Accepted as an M.S. candidate in atmospheric sciences.

Weewashte Conroy — SDSU, Nursing Scholarships: Helen Roberti, Crazy Horse, JA&B Tavers, IHS Section 112.

Externship: Summer 2009- IHS Externship at Rapid City IHS

Other: member of SNA (student Jacqueline DeMent GPS surveying nurses‘ association), a gas main to put on MDU’s GIS volunteering for 2009 SDSU maps in North Rapid City.

Nurses‘ Camp (06/09).

Conferences: attended 2009 SDSNA (SD student nurses‘ association) conference.

Weyland Scholarship, Hrachovec Family Scholarship, Malachi Foley Jacqueline DeMent — Civil Memorial Scholarship.

Engineering Jacqueline is an active member and Scholarships: Edward J. Logar, Secretary of the School of Mines Native American Fund, Floyd AISES chapter. She is currently an L. Mathew Memorial engineering intern for Montana Scholarship Civil Engineering Dakota Utilities.

Department), Walter Pailing/ Crazy Horse Scholarship, (Continued page 5) Clifford Falk Memorial Scholarship, AISES Jack

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Student Spotlight Deanna Shoup, Sicangu, Rapid City Deanna, 34, is a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Her parents are Pearl Stone and Joe Prue. She is a graduate of T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, South Dakota.

Now a junior interdisciplinary Deanna Shoup , IS Major sciences major (pre-professional (Sicangu Lakota) health), Deanna is also a nontraditional student, returning back to school after a long hiatus.

Initially, for two years following ―I NEVER REALLY high school, she attended Creighton University, a CatholicTHOUGHT ABOUT Jesuit school in Omaha, Nebraska.

IT BEFORE UNTIL Unsure then of what she THIS PAST YEAR wanted to pursue, Deanna later returned to school with a focus BUT I’M PART OF on medicine — her passion.

THIS FEMALE ―I applied to the School of Mines, was accepted, and started LEGACY.‖ their Bridge Program here in the summer of 2006,‖ she said, adding that she then took college algebra and pre-chemistry with about eight other students in the program.

The Bridge Program (no longer offered at the School of Mines) assisted those students who were accepted to the university, but who had lower grades or ACT scores, with guidance in coursework to increase their potential for success on campus.

AISES recently honored former Deanna participated as part of a civil engineering student Shaun Native American female WISE Herrod (with fiancé Agnes Steele ) Start scholarship she received. at a buffalo stew luncheon. Herrod ―I wanted to get my feet wet was wrapped in a traditional Laand was happy that I needed to kota Star Quilt and many encour- do it and that it was part of a aged his ongoing steady recovery scholarship situation because I from a traumatic brain injury sus- felt nervous about starting school tained last year in a car accident. again,‖ she said. ―I needed to catch up and compete with all the ―young minds.‖ Page 3

From a family of career professionals and strong female educators, Deanna is following in their footsteps.

Deanna‘s mother also went back to school after having a family and received her bachelor‘s degree in business administration at Huron University in South Dakota. She has worked for the state of South Dakota for the last 25 years. Her grandmother moved to Huron after the death of her husband, went to school and received her degree in criminal justice at Huron University and worked for the penitentiary. Deanna‘s aunt just received her doctorate in nursing and has been in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years. ―I never really thought about it before until this past year, but I‘m part of this female legacy,‖ she said. ―It‘s pretty exciting and encouraging that they did it. They had kids and responsibilities but they were able to complete their education.‖ Her dad is an x-ray technician who worked for Rosebud Hospital for over 20 years.

Her family is proud of her. ―My grandmother especially,‖ she noted. ―Whenever I make the dean‘s list I send the newspaper clipping and she shows all her friends.‖ Deanna said her grandmother is particularly excited as in her extended family there are those who are struggling with ―negative behaviors‖ — drugs and alcohol addiction and not living up to their potential. ―Just for me, going to school is a big deal. Then because I want to be a doctor, it just exponentially increases the excitement and encouragement,‖ she added. Out of four semesters, Deanna has made the dean‘s list three times.

She is from a family of five siblings. Her older brother is a contractor. Her younger sister, Shawndai Prue, is a School of Mines freshman and following in her sister‘s footsteps, also pursuing a degree in

interdisciplinary sciences (preprofessional health). Another sister is a student at the University of North Dakota, pursuing counseling. Deanna‘s initial experience on campus covered both issues of race and age. She said her first semester was the most difficult. ―I was feeling that I had an ―old brain,‖ she said. ―I have heard people say negative comments about American Indian people and then having different professors making comments about Native people…not outright racism, but stereotypes are there feeding into some of that stuff.‖ Former Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) Director Bruce Carter was of great support to her early on, she said. ―He was somebody who had helped me get accepted to the school to begin with,‖ she said. ―He would keep up with me, keep me on track.‖ Deanna credits the whole Office of Multicultural Affairs as being ―very helpful‖ during this time. Later, she became involved with AISES as well.

Because of her early participation in the Bridge Program, people knew who she was as well as her background.

They also added encouragement and would check in on her.

Deanna has been married 12 years and has four daughters, ages three, six, 12, and 14. She and her husband are youth pastors at Destiny Foursquare Church where he leads the worship. A four-year medical school program is her next step.

She will apply to various schools next year.

Deanna wants to specialize in OB-GYN or family practice and wants to practice in the Black Hills area or in the Midwest. (continued on page 6)

N a t ive A m er i c a n A l u m n i SDSMT

In 1980, LCDR Bad Moccasin returned to the IHS Aberdeen Area office to serve as the director of the facilities SDSMT management program. He DONALD B. BAD MOCCASIN, was responsible for area-wide operation, maintenance, P.E. repair, remodeling and Assistant Surgeon General, Rear Admiral, renovation of eight hospitals, seven health centers, USPHS (ret.) Donald ―Bruce‖ Bad Moccasin was several health clinics and stations, and associated staff born in Chamberlain, South Dakota, in February quarters in the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, 1949. A member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, his Nebraska, and Iowa. entire professional career has been serving American In 1984, he was assigned as the Director for the Indians and Alaska Natives while in the Bureau of Office of Environmental Health for the Aberdeen Indian Affairs (BIA) and as a U.S. Public Health Area, giving him new responsibilities for the SFC and Service Officer in the Indian Health Service (IHS).

Environmental Health Services programs.

Bruce Bad Moccasin received a bachelor of He was promoted to Commander (CDR) in January science degree in civil engineering from South 1985. In 1986, he received a master of science degree Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 1972. in civil engineering with an emphasis in After three months of active duty in the Army, he environmental engineering from the South Dakota transferred to a reserve unit and began working with School of Mines and Technology. the BIA in Aberdeen, South Dakota, as a roads In 1989, he was assigned to be the Director of the engineer and facilities management officer.

Office of Environmental Health and Engineering in In 1977, Bad Moccasin joined the U.S. Public Aberdeen, giving him the added responsibilities of the Health Service (PHS) as a design staff engineer in facilities management and clinical engineering Oklahoma City. There, he was responsible for the programs for the entire IHS Aberdeen Area. design and construction of water and wastewater In 1991, CDR Bad Moccasin was promoted to projects for Oklahoma tribal communities, Captain (CAPT) and transferred to the IHS Phoenix, Cheyenne River Sioux and Standing Rock Sioux Arizona Area office to serve as the Deputy Director reservations. of the Office of Environmental Health.

Profiles

1. What are some of your best experiences attending the South Dakota School of Mines?

Discipline: learning, training, strict self-control, and rules!

My first year was hard for me. My grades were low, due to participation in too many sports activities. I was involved in cross-country, basketball, and track. The sports were good for me.

The teams were very good for me; new friends, new coaches, and competition. That year the sports kept me busy. But the games, running events and practices were cutting into my class time. After that year, I omitted the cross country sport.

During the following three years, I enjoyed sports (basketball and track), my courses, and better grades. My second year, I joined a fraternity family.

They were my college family. They supported me through my courses and sports. My professors were teachers; they supported me and they tutored. The Army ROTC training was very good for me; military training, rules, regulations, and self-control.

The sports coaches were family for me during the year; Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. The School of Mines experience was outstanding for me.

During varsity basketball I started right away as a freshman guard — and then every year after — all four seasons. Every year, I was a track runner, middle distance (half mile, mile, and relays). The competition was hard and tough. I enjoyed the basketball games and track meets.

My ROTC training was difficult and made me a better officer. The basic Army officer training was hard. The Army training taught me to be loyal and trust other students.

In 1972 I graduated and was commissioned into the U.S. Army. My first job was as a civil (computer) engineer. I worked for IBM, a private business.

In 1992, he became the Director of the Office of Environmental Health and Engineering where he was responsible for sanitation facilities construction, environmental health services, facilities management, and clinic engineering programs in the IHS Phoenix Area. CAPT Bad Moccasin returned to Aberdeen as the IHS Aberdeen Area Director in 1993, and headed all IHS programs for the Aberdeen Area, including a comprehensive healthcare program serving 112,000 American Indians in 17 tribes across four states. He oversaw an organization of approximately 2,200 IHS staff with an annual operating budget exceeding $220 million..

In recognition of his leadership and responsibilities, CAPT Bruce Bad Moccasin was promoted to Assistant Surgeon General with the rank of Rear Admiral (RADM) in January 1995. He was promoted to RADM (upper half) in 1999.

RADM Bad Moccasin was a member of the Engineer Professional Advisory Committee (EPAC), and served on Surgeon General Koop‘s Task Force on Commissioned Corps Revitalization. He was also the president of the Aberdeen Area branch of the Commissioned Officers Association in 1988.

RADM Bad Moccasin is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the PHS Distinguished Service Medal, PHS Outstanding Service Medal, and PHS Commendation.

2. Is there anything the School of Mines could have done better?

The school president, professors, coaches, and students were excellent. They supported and encouraged me and shared their time, monies, and friends.

3. How did you prepare for your illustrious career?

After graduation, I had a job for a private employer, IBM. They were the first job for me and I worked for them as a computer engineer. I worked with them for four months before my active duty assignment to the U.S. Army (three months active duty).

After my active duty in the Army, I was hired by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The BIA was the grantor for my college expenses during the classes at the School of Mines. I wanted to work with them as a civil engineer (roads engineer). I worked with them for five years as a civil engineer, facilities engineer, and safety manager. These jobs were in locations within and adjacent to the tribes.

In 1977, I was hired by the Indian Health Service (HIS). The IHS is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. I was a civil engineer; I designed and constructed water supply, water distribution, wastewater collection, water waste treatment, and solid waste systems. I was a facilities engineer: planning, designing, and constructing operation and maintenance programs for hospital and clinics. My final IHS job was as manager/executive director. This involved overseeing human and financial resources, advocating health programs, and working directly with tribes, states, counties, towns, cities, Congress members and other IHS managers.

4. Would you encourage others to do the same?

My experiences were excellent for me. The assignments, locations, and public service jobs were excellent, both in health and education. My jobs were intense, requiring both oral skills and the ability to listen, be honest, and trust in the public and the family. I had to be responsible for the financial areas, property, and personnel resources. I had to show the public that I was using the funds for the proper services.

5. Are there children or grandchildren following in your footsteps?

My children are grown; our son and family are living in the mid-western area. Our daughter and family are also living in the mid-western area. My children did not select engineering but they chose other vocations in business and health. I have a niece that graduated from the School of Mines, as a civil engineer. She is working for IHS in Phoenix, Arizona. (continued on page 5)

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Native Alumni cont...

I have a nephew that graduated from SDSU as a civil engineer. He is working for IHS in Pierre, South Dakota.

My high school grades were average. My experience at the School of Mines was hard for me. My math and science abilities were average but I worked in class during the first and second years.

My program, civil engineering, was a passion for me. My father was a concrete, cement, brick, and block workman. My father was a hard worker. I learned an engineering vocation rather than labor working. I used my time at the School of Mines efficiently.

My advice is to be prepared for the degree, also math and science. School of Mines‘ courses are difficult but you can get a degree.

I was an average student but I worked with my professors, students, family, communities (Rapid City and Pierre), and mentors. I had many mentors; my brothers, sisters, father, mother, and grandfather.

“Looking Beyond One’s Self”

This painting, ―Looking Beyond One’s Self‖ was commissioned by the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 1995.

Oglala Lakota artist Donald Montileaux was asked to create a work of art that represented the desire for young American Indians to reach beyond themselves...toward the stars and their visions. The finished piece depicts three American Indian youth looking beyond the immediate horizon toward a vision of the future. In March 2007, the original painting was placed in the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian‘s permanent collection.

Signed and numbered official prints are available for purchase at the School of Mines.

Each print measures 25.5‖ x 18.25‖ and costs $185.50. In addition, prints may be purchased to place in schools.

To purchase a print contact: Scott Wiley, OMA Coordinator at (605) 394– 1828

AISES Student Achievements cont...

Leading the charge for community outreach, Deanna Shoup — Interdisciplinary Sciences Quana‘s ideas combined with the nomination (Pre-Professional Health) of AISES president Adam Dell, were Deanna was one of ten winners of the tantamount in AISES receiving this year‘s Association of American Medical Colleges School of Mines Board of Regents (AAMC) first AspiringDocs.org Video Community Service Award.

Contest. Deanna was the recent recipient of She attended the National AISES the School of Mines 2009 Outstanding Non- conference this year in Anaheim, California.

Traditional Student Award.

Quana landed a job with the Corps of Engineers and will be moving to Phoenix in Quana Higgins — Civil Engineering June where she will work under professional engineers for the next two years.

Jessica Chretien — Industrial Engineering Scholarships: Vucurevich Native American Quana graduated in May with a 3.20 GPA. Scholarship, Herrington Scholarship, Dorr Scholarships: John Deere IE Diversity CEE Scholarship (JVN), Smart Grant, Scholarship, Cross Country Scholarship, Adam Dell — Interdisciplinary Sciences, PreWomen‘s Volleyball Award (manager/ Space Grant Consortium.

Professional Health student coach), Crazy Horse Memorial Internship: Materials Recovery Facility in Scholarship.

Rapid City.

School of Mines AISES Chapter President, Awards: Vice President of Alpha Pi Mu (the Quana has made the dean‘s list for three Adam Dell, was voted the new AISES Region industrial engineering honor society) and 5 Representative during his recent trip to the semesters. As a senior in the volleyball Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) program, she was the recipient of the SALC AISES Regional Conference in Minneapolis.

Academic Scholar Honor Roll.

This position, previously held for many years Leadership Award and was recognized at Other: She has been an active participant in by students at the University of North Dakota, Honors Convocation this past spring.

WISE (Women in Engineering and Science), is a first-time win for the South Dakota AISES Quana‘s senior design project is an AISES, IIE (Institute of Industrial analysis of a hydraulic structure on the south Region. Adam will be responsible for all Engineering), as well as a peer mentor and canal in the Belle Fourche Irrigation District AISES chapters in the Region 5 area for one tutor and is involved in Drama Club, cross year — effective immediately!

(BFID). She spent this past summer country, and track. collecting water samples for a hydraulic Conferences: Jessica attended Cargill‘s Scholarships: Hagen Harvey/Richard Minerva model of the Cheyenne River and its Scholarship, Adolph Van Pelt Scholarship, Backpack 2 Briefcase Program; AISES tributaries under the tutelage of School of National Conference in Anaheim, California; Mines faculty member Dr. Scott Kenner and Vucurevich Presidential Scholarship (SDSMT), Hansen/Jackson Native American RESPEC, a Rapid City consulting and the IIE Regional Conference in Rapid Scholarship (SDSM&T), AISES/Dr. Jack engineering firm. She also assisted in the City, South Dakota.

Weylon Scholarship (SDSM&T), AIEF validation of a graduate student‘s thesis on the BFID this past summer and her work on Scholarship (SDSM&T), NASA Space Grant, this project will be used this growing season OST Higher Education Grant, Darrel Martin Fund Summer 2008 Internship at Mount in Newell, SD. Rushmore.

Page 5 She participated in the United Way Day of Caring/Sharing last fall (2008) and helped build a house. Jacqueline volunteers her time to referee youth basketball tournaments around the area. She has worked for the Indian Health Service and the Office of Environmental Engineering. She also interned for Dream Design International, a private civil/structural engineering and land development firm.

Student Spotlight continued… Shoup ―There is a shortage of doctors in this area,‖ she said, adding that she would like to work in the IHS system, or at least ―where there is a large concentration of Native people.‖ ―I‘ve lived in the big cities and know I want to be here where my family is,‖ she said. ―I want to focus on women and children; be an educator as well as into the whole wellness thing. Not just ‗treat ‗em and street ‗em.‘‖ She encourages other Native youth to not be intimidated to attend the School of Mines. ―When I first graduated high school and I‘d hear about people who came out here — I knew it was ‗the smart school‘ and I knew that was not for me — it was too much,‖ she said. ―When I made the decision to apply here, it was primarily because I live here — once I got into it…if you work hard you‘ll do well.

―You have the support system and you have people who want you to do well here,‖ she said. ―It‘s just getting over that first year. You need to take that first step and find somebody who will support you in what you‘re doing and who maybe has some knowledge or experience in what you‘re thinking.‖ She also says to no be afraid and to ask questions, be honest with people, and ask for help.

Growing up in her community, there were not a lot of options or people she could look at and say, ―Oh, I could be a doctor or a lawyer.‖ ―You need somebody to really be your cheerleader — tell you that you can do it. A mentor to help you navigate.‖

‖THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS IN THIS AREA … I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WHERE THERE IS A LARGE CONCENTRATION OF NATIVE PEOPLE…”

Feathering Ceremony cont...

December 2008 Native Graduates: Jade Herman, daughter of Cheryl Hanna Francis Herman, has been a tremendous asset to her School of Mines family by being an officer in AISES and involved in Alpha Delta Pi, the Student Alumni Connection, Circle K, and Junior Ambassadors. She was president of the dance team, and last year was inducted into the Leadership Hall of Fame. This is an impressive listing of involvement and generosity of spirit.

William Kindle, son of Bill and Lori Kindle, will make his School of Mines family and his former coworkers at Ellsworth proud as he heads off to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington State to take a job as an electrical engineer. William leaves positive influences behind through his involvements in intramural athletics and the Non-Traditional Student Association. We wish him well with a proud smile.

James Sanovia, son of Duane and Ramona Sanovia, is staying with the family

a bit longer as he completes his master‘s degree in geological engineering. His desire to remain close to family is our good fortune because he has so much to give to the young people he mentors and to all people of the Black Hills through his expertise in mapping and his knowledge of the Lakota culture. We are proud to have James represent the School of Mines in the community.

May 2009 Native Graduates: Myrna Littlewolf, daughter of Bernie and Lona Littlewolf, is graduating with a B.S. in industrial engineering. As yet, she is still deciding whether to accept a job offer with Boeing or to continue on to grad school. Myrna has been an active member of AISES and represented the group at the national conference in Anaheim last October.

Quana Higgins (see student spotlight).

Quana Higgins, Oglala Lakota civil engineering senior tests the structural strength of a popsicle bridge at the Rapid City Club for Boys AISES Engineering Week competition.

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Student Spotlight Quana Higgins, Oglala, Rapid City

Current AISES treasurer, Quana Higgins, civil engineering major (Oglala Lakota)

―THERE AREN’T MANY WOMEN HERE AT THE SCHOOL—EVEN MORE SCARCE ARE THE NATIVE WOMEN.”

Quana Higgins, Oglala, is a fifth -year senior in civil engineering.

Her parents are Marilyn Wounded Head (Oglala of Pine Ridge) and Randy Higgins.

The 22 year old currently carries a 3.00 average (B) and was recruited to the School of Mines through a volleyball scholarship.

Initially an interdisciplinary sciences (IS) major, Quana switched to civil engineering as she found it more of a challenge ―I came here as an IS ―pre-law‖ major and met with my advisor. I told him I wanted to switch majors because I was bored with my courses and I wanted more math,‖ she explains. ―I went through the course catalog and picked out a major that had the classes I was interested in and civil engineering fit.‖ Coming from a family that holds education in high regard, Quana is one of four sisters who pursued higher education. Her older sister holds a bachelor‘s degree in social services, another sister is a psychology major at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas, and her youngest sister is a history major at Hastings College in Nebraska. Her mother also holds a master‘s degree in fine arts.

Quana is the sole member of her family pursing engineering, and finds herself among the few women in her senior classes, and the only Native woman. At first she said she felt quite alone. ―There aren‘t many women here at the school — even more scarce are the Native women. The ratio of women in my civil classes started out pretty even to the men, but now that we‘re in higher senior-level classes there are only six or seven of us,‖ she said. Mentors such as previous students who have landed ―pretty decent jobs‖ or done

research with the university have been of great help along the way, as well as Dr. Scott Kenner. ―I‘ve looked up to him and all the stuff he‘s accomplished,‖ she said. ―He‘s helped me out over the years.‖ She also acknowledges her family, who in the traditional Lakota manner shy away from praise, yet when they do it means something. ―My parents don‘t go out of their way to tell me they are proud of me, but when they do it‘s a big deal. I know they are proud of me they don‘t have to say it,‖ she said. ―My mom brags about me to her different co-workers.‖ She is looking to get a job in her field (she prefers field-work or research to a desk job) straight out of school, and hopes to make those connections at the OMA fieldtrip to the National AISES Conference Career Fair the last weekend in October. ―If I don‘t get a good enough offer with these companies then I am going to pursue going to graduate school either here in South Dakota or in another state,‖ she adds.

Quana is specializing in the water resources area of civil engineering and recently did some student collaborative studies with a company called ―RESPEC.‖ ―We‘re working through the school with RESPEC to do water quality testing and sediment analysis. This year, we worked along the Cheyenne River,‖ she said. ―There was modeling involved to determine and meet EPA standards.‖ She helped track these maximum EPA levels on suspended solids in the water with the intent of proving that the high levels of solids are coming from the Badlands, due to its geological makeup.

She also is passionate about volleyball. She is on the School of Mines Hardrocker Volleyball Team that plays schools nationwide. She was recruited as a setter, but her sophomore year she was an outside

hitter and her last year she was a defense specialist as a backup libero. This year, she serves as a student manager and coach!

Being a Native student at the School of Mines hasn‘t affected her that much she says. ―At first I didn‘t have time to look up from my books and notice, but now I have more of a sense of community here.‖ As an independent freshman, Quana said she‘d just try to figure things out herself. She was a national member of AISES (American Indian Science & Engineering Society) her freshman year, but last year she became a chapter member, becoming more actively involved. ―I did attend all the meetings and now I am acting treasurer,‖ she said.

Her message to other Native youth interested in attending the School of Mines: ―Do not be scared. Do not look at programs here at the School of Mines and be overwhelmed.

Look at the entire picture.

Challenge yourself and try to find out for yourself that you can actually do it. Even if it doesn‘t work out you can always change your major or your school. You don‘t necessarily have to fail.‖

Congratulations School of Mines AISES Chapter for receiving the South Dakota Board of Regents 2008 –2009 Community Service Award!

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AISES SDSM&T American Indian Science & Engineering Society chapter

PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE

501 E. St. Joseph Street Rapid City, SD 57701 Phone: (605) 394-1828 Fax: (605) 394-2444 E-mail: Adam.Dell@Mines.sdsmt.edu

AISES Sponsored Events: Ted Hamilton: Historical account of the treaties with the U.S. Government Keith Moore: The 2007 SD Indian Education Act and its impact on higher education Don Montileaux: Northern Plains ledger artist Black Hills Corporation sponsored Friday Lunch, feature presentation by Joel Hart

The School of Mines AISES Chapter meets bi -weekly in the lower Surbeck OMA area and is always recruiting new members and further involvement by its current members.

Elections for the four AISES Officers Positions are held each spring. Nominations are open to national AISES student members.

AISES at Rapid City Club for Boys during Engineer’s Week

Crafts instruction at Western Dakota Tech‘s children‘s home holiday dinner

AISES Members (from left:) Weewashte Conroy, Jessica Chretien, Quana Higgins, and Adam Dell prepare to test a popsicle bridge’s strength .

Delegates to the October AISES National Conference in Anaheim, California: Adam Dell Jessica Chretien Quana Higgins Myrna Littlewolf Charles Bush AISES Officers: Adam Dell, president Jessica Chretien, vice president Quana Higgins, treasurer Jacqueline DeMent, secretary

The Road to Success Paved with Taco Sales!

Creating a presence and raising funds for outreach and professional development is what the AISES Indian Taco sales are all about. AISES students help the campus become more aware of the presence of the Native American community and culture in a delicious language that everyone speaks: food! The group has successfully undertaken three Indian Taco sales featuring homemade frybread and all the fixings.

The campus response has been overwhelmingly positive. Several departments have become regulars who order for the whole department. Off-campus organizations have also been big customers, including MontanaDakota Utilities and the Rapid City Area School District.

Monies generated from the sales have helped pay for outreach efforts to the Rapid City Club for Boys and Black Hills Children‘s Home, as well as the semi-annual feathering ceremonies for

Native grads.

The taco sales have also supported professional development efforts by freeing funds for students to attend the AISES National Conference in Anaheim last fall. ―These Indian Taco sales are just one example of how incredibly active and ambitious this AISES chapter has been in their desire to promote Native student success in science and engineering education,‖ says Scott Wiley, coordinator of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.