First Nations Students at Mines Newsletter
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology American Indian Science & Engineering Society
Fall 2009
Spring Feathering Ceremony honors two Native engineers plained the Hunkapi ceremony for the two Win. President Robert Wharton, Ph.D., introduced by OMA Coordinator—Scott Wiley, offered words of encouragement for each of the graduates, summarizing their various achievements while at the school and highlighting their future goals. Keynote Speaker—Robert Cook, president of the National
President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D. addresses 2009 Native engineering graduates.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS:
JESSICA CHRETIEN JACQUELINE DEMENT Harriet Brings explains the Hunkapi, one of seven sacred ceremonies.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs proudly hosted its second annual Native Feathering Ceremony on May 8, 2009 for two engineering graduates: Quana Higgins, Oglala Lakota, B..S., civil engineer and Myrna Littlewolf, Chippewa, B..S., industrial engineerNIEA President, Robert Cook shares wisdom from his personal journey. Indian Education Association (NIEA) and Crazy Horse‘s Cultural Affairs & Education Outreach Specialist, shared a story on the significance of the eagle and receiving a feather.
A 14-foot tipi ,borrowed and raised with help from Robert Cook and members of AISES, decorates Surbeck Ballroom for the ceremony. ing. Harriet Brings, Oglala Lakota Cultural Resource Specialist for the Rapid City School District, conducted the blessing of the feathers and ex-
As Ateyapi Drum (John Swift Bird, Scott Means, Wayne Center, and Sonny Hayes) played a Hunkapi song, proud family members, faculty, staff, and community watched as the two ate their wasna and received their eagle plumes. People lined up to shake their hands while an Honor Song played. A traditional meal of buffalo stew, wojapi, and fry bread was served. after the ceremony. Following a recognition of
former and newly elected AISES officers, Quana also received the new AISES ―Most Outstanding Member of the Year Award‖ to be offered annually at the ceremony by OMA. OMA Feather, Ceremony Coordinator-Program AssistantAbena Songbird presented gifts to Robert Cook and Harriet Brings from OMA and AISES and thanked all
The IHS Scholarship is a highly competitive scholarship for federally or state
recognized American Indians and Alaska Natives. On average 1200 applications for 150 scholarships. Deanna is a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Her parents are Pearl Stone and Joe Prue. She is a gradu-
Inside this issue: 1
DEANNA SHOUP WINS INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES SCHOLARSHIP COAL MINING SUMMITT JACQUELINE DEMENT
Lila Waste! Quana receives a warm hug from her grandfather.
Deanna Shoup 2009 recipient of IHS Scholarship Deanna Shoup, a School of Mines senior , was recently named a recipient of the prestigious Indian Health Services (IHS) Scholarship.
CLARITA BEGISHE
ate of T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, South Dakota. A senior interdisciplinary sciences major (pre-professional health), (Continued on page 2)
BY
2
SCOTT WILEY’S MULTICULTURAL DIARY
3
AISES 2009 BOARD OF REGENTS AWARD
9
ADAM DELL DENALI FELLOWSHIP
2
2009 Coal Mining Summit unique eye-opener by Jacqueline DeMent
School of Mines civil engineering student, Jacqueline DeMent & Industrial Engineering Professor, Dr. Carter Kerk ride the large coal dump truck.
“WHEN COAL MINING IS MENTIONED, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ENVISION... CLAUSTROPHOBIA AND MEN WITH PICK AXES... ..MY PERCEPTION OF COAL MINING WILL BE FOREVER CHANGED.”
This past spring Dr. Carter Kerk (industrial engineering professor) and I (civil engineering student) had the opportunity to attend a two-day coal-mining summit hosted by Peabody Coal in Gillette, Wyoming. When coal mining is mentioned, the majority of people envision the stereotypical eastern United States, underground tunnels, confined spaces, claustrophobia and men with pick axes wearing head lamps. This is the exact opposite of the coal mines in the Midwest, and Wyoming in particular. Wide-open prairie, antelope, and massive equipment are a few things you will see when venturing west. Peabody Coal geared its first annual—Coal Mining Summittowards minorities and women. The summit took place at the Caballo Coal Mine in the Powder
Basin in eastern Wyoming and at Peabody‘s Headquarters in Gillette, Wyoming. For two days, our eyes were opened to the world of open pit coal mining; the business side, the environmental side, the operations side, and sustainability for future generations. Many believe that opportunities for employment are limited to ―mining engineers.‖ Peabody employs and offers internships to mechanical, civil, electrical, geological, environmental, and industrial engineers. All of the disciplines are vital to the operations and assist in maintaining a successful and profitable mine. From driving the simulator to seeing the gigantic bulldozers push earth, my perception of coal mining is forever changed.
Friday, August 7, 2009 in SDSM&T King Christensen Center communications coordinator, Dr. Alfred Boysen welcomed all to a closing ceremony for a 10- week Research Education for Undergraduates (REU) program sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Jacqueline is dwarfed by a big rig tire.
Adam Dell receives Denali Fellowship School of Mines AISES President Adam Dell recently received the prestigious Denali Fellowship. Based in La Jolla, California, this Fellowship is granted to five10 Native college students nationwide. Eligibility for the fellowship is based on: a high GPA (3.0 or above), one‘s leadership roles with a focus on those students who have participated in extracurricular activities with Native communities as well as Native run organizations;
students who demonstrate potential to give back to the Native American community, and who demonstrate excellence in management of multiple areas— personal life, work experience, and college extracurricular activities. An element of-giving backto ones‘ community/ entrepreneurship is encouraged. The award is $1,000-$2,500 and allows some recipients the
opportunity to attend an allexpense paid trip to La Jolla, California for workshops on personal finance skills and to gain insight into how the investment management industry functions. They will also tour Denali offices. The only other requirement for Dell is to make a presentation to a group of at least 20 Native American students and/or tribal members on a subject related to personal finance.
―I just received the notification today (August 13),‖ she said. ―I‘ve been applying for this scholarship for the past four years!‖ Deanna thanked OMA coordinator, Scott Wiley for his recommendation, support, and encouragement during the past year. The IHS scholarship is awarded to students who are planning on working in the underserved disciplines in the medical field. For physicians, it is geared towards students who plan on going into Family Practice, obstetrics/ gynecology (OB/GYN), podiatry or other highly-needed IHS areas.
Deanna wants to specialize in OB-GYN or family practice and wants to practice in the Black Hills area or in the Midwest. She also recently received word that she is a recipient of the ―Catching the Dream Native American Scholarship‖ based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A four-year medical school program is her next step. She will apply to various schools this year. ―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.‖
Shoup continued...
Page 2
Deanna is also a non-traditional student and a member of the American Indian Science & Engineering Society chapter on campus and an exemplary student. There are three different categories for this scholarship and awards vary depending on school the recipient attends. The total award amount received is approximately $25,000 for the year, covering tuition, fees, books, and allowing a travel award and monthly stipend. After writing three essays, turning in two recommendations, and furnishing additional documentation, Deanna‘s efforts paid off.
Volume 1, Issue 2 Student Spotlight Clarita Begishe, of Black Mesa Arizona, is a member of the Diné tribe (Navajo Nation) and a senior pursuing a B.S. in mining engineering at the School of Mines. Her graduation date will be in the spring of 2011, and she maintains a 3.0 grade point average. A non-traditional student, Clarita is a single mother. Her parents are Shirley and Henry Begishe, also Diné. The oldest of six, Clarita has four brothers and an additional sister. Her oldest brother attends Oglala Lakota College. As the oldest in her family, she was always self-motivated. Clarita managed to be in the top 15 percent of her high school class. She was influenced in her eventual pursuit of a mining engineering major by both her father and her nation.
tool box by CIT. She still has it to this day. ―Nobody touches my tool box,‖ she said.
Working in the Coal Mine After several dead-end jobs, she worked at the Peabody mine site in security and driving the ―Wishy-Washy,‖ a large diesel truck that had a portable water heater that churned out highpressured water. This was at the height of the winter season, wet and cold. ―You had to go wash heavy equipment in the mines. If you worked on the conveyor belt or the silo it was just a lot of work. You had to carry the hose all the way up – as petite as I am you had to work extra hard,‖ she noted. While working, she also attended Diné Tribal College. She sought the help of the colAutomotive Technician lege‘s academic advisor who Fresh out of high school, she encouraged her to finish with a went to Crownpoint Institute of dual–degree, graduating with a Technology (CIT) on the reserva- associate‘s degree in both social tion for a year and graduated with behavior science and business a certificate of completion as an administration. automotive technician. While finishing these deUpon completion of the grees, she found a part-time job course, Clarita was given a red
at Peabody Coal Mine as clerical help. A year after graduation, she began looking for jobs on the reservation and couldn‘t find any. ―They would tell me, ‗we need someone with a Bachelor‘s Degree in Social Sciences, something higher,‘‖ she
said. South Dakota School of Mines Looking around at schools, Clarita considered Montana Tech, New Mexico Tech, and Colorado School of Mines. Then she discovered the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Long having a fascination about South Dakota‘s Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Lakota Culture, and the Northern Plains Tribes, she decided to apply and was accepted. In 2006, she flew out to South Dakota alone with one suitcase. Keeping her GPA high, she received several scholarships, including the Navajo Nation‘s prestigious Chief Manuelito Scholarship, several freshman scholarships from the SDSM&T Mining Department, a multi-cultural scholarship and a (Continued on page 6)
Clarita Begishe, B.S. mining engineering, AISES Secretary
“YOU HAD TO GO WASH HEAVY EQUIPMENT IN THE MINES. IF YOU WORKED ON THE CONVEYOR BELT OR THE SILO IT WAS JUST A LOT OF WORK. YOU HAD TO CARRY THE HOSE ALL THE WAY UP. AS PETITE AS I AM, I HAD TO WORK EXTRA HARD...”
Scott Wiley’s Multicultural Training Diary So I‘m sitting in the commons and a student says, ―Hey, what‘s up with these drums?‖ He noticed the Native American traditional drums we have near the Office of Multicultural Affairs. His tone of voice told me he was confused about their presence on a college campus. Of course, the incident was an opportunity to explain that Lakota culture is very ancient, and many members want to preserve as much as possible. This requires the passing of traditions on to younger generations and teaching them the significance of these traditions In most Native cultures, the drum is a centerpiece for any gathering–from weddings, to honoring ceremonies, to funerals, to
parties. Note to self: Try to have an open mind when you run into someone else‘s context. Before you decide something is silly, unnecessary, or disagreeable, try to find out why it is important to someone else. It‘s just basic respect, which is the first rule of human relationships, whether they be personal, professional, corporate, athletic, or whatever. There is a world of difference between the mindset that says, ―I don‘t know what that‘s all about – I don‘t like it,‖ and, ―I don‘t know what that‘s all about—tell me more.‖ ―Help me understand‖ is better than ―Why do you always…?‖
Be curious. Ask questions respectfully–not to judge or put down, but to expand your own understanding and appreciation for people who come from a different background than you. This is just good advice in general. It will help you get along with people who are younger than you, older than you, speak a different first language, or come from a different part of the city, the country, or the globe. It will even help you get along with the opposite sex! Remember, you live in the age of globalization. Get used to it.
Page 3
Student Spotlight Jessica Chretien, African American, Oglala Lakota, Rapid City is a senior industrial engineering major. Her parents are Geraldine Goes-In-Center, Oglala Lakota and Roger Chretien, a Cajun (mixed blood African, Native, Caucasian, and French) from Louisiana. Describing herself as a-military brat -who grew up ―all over,‖ Jessie was born in Louisiana, and eventually moved to her mother‘s place of birth–the Pine Ridge Jessica Chretien, B.S industrial engineering- Jessie Reservation. gives “ thumbs up” before riding the-Tower of She went to high school for Terror-at Disney World during the national AISES several years at Red Cloud on the conference in Anaheim, California. Pine Ridge Reservation, and after moving to Rapid City finished the two years at Central High ―I KNOW THAT MATH, School, where she graduated. ENGINEERING AND Being of mixed race from such diverse cultures was not a THE SCIENCES ARE hindrance to Jessie. SERIOUSLY ―Growing up, I didn‘t even UNDERREPRESENTED notice I was different,‖ she said. ―Being in the military, everyBY WOMEN AND one‘s pretty much the same– MINORITIES, SO I everyone‘s parents make the KINDA KNEW same amount of money, live in the same kind of houses. I didn‘t COMING IN THAT I even notice the differences in WOULD BE UNIQUE IN cultures until my dad retired, and THE CLASSROOM.” I lived in Louisiana with him.‖ Jessie lived there for about a year when she was in seventh grade, before moving to South Dakota.
Tri-cultures The cultures of Louisiana are as diverse in make-up as the ingredients that go into a good gumbo stew. African cultures blend with Creole, Native American, and French to form amazing mixtures reflected in the language, food, and the music. ―At first, it was a culture shock, because I have lighter skin, everyone assumed I was white but by the end of the year, I was hanging out more with the black kids,‖ she said. ―It was just shocking to me as I had never before experienced people wanting to separate themselves because of their family background.‖ Jessie started eighth grade at Red Cloud High School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, which she described as ―shocking.‖ ―Life on the res is different from everywhere else. It‘s similar in a way— because there are still a lot of people separating themselves because of where they‘re from,‖ she notes. ―I saw that there was racism here too, not just in Louisiana—down south.‖ Jessie said she didn‘t really feel too much red-on-red discrimination because of her lighter skin. ―I don‘t know if I didn‘t notice because I‘m just oblivious to that.‖ Higher education is important to her family. She is the third-
oldest of four sisters. Her second - oldest sister has a degree in elementary education; her oldest now attends college and will be graduating this fall with a degree in communications broadcasting. ―I‘m the only one in the technical fields, the STEM fields,‖ she said. At 26, she follows in her parents footsteps, returning as a non-traditional student. ―My parents didn‘t go to school until after they had a family and were much older,‖ she said. Her father has an A.A. degree in juvenile justice and works for the District Attorney in the Louisiana town he resides in. Jessie‘s mother has an A.A. degree in social work from Oglala Lakota College and is a well-known regional entrepreneur, advocate for traditional indigenous herbs, foods/diet, author, educator, and presenter. In 2001, Chretien was on the path to art school and casually shopping a school in Colorado for commercial design. She then received a fullridescholarship to a liberal arts school in Wisconsin. ―You don‘t turn something like that down,‖ she said. She also ran on the cross country team there and made many friends but decided the degree wasn‘t for her and left.
Activities—Announcements
Page 4
Volume 1, Issue 2 Student Spotlight Jacqueline DeMent, Oglala, Lakota, Rapid City, a BS. civil engineering junior was born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and grew up on a ranch just south of Oglala. Her mother is Deborah Rooks, an Oglala Lakota also part of the Rooks clan, (her maternal grandfather was from Rosebud–the St. Francis area), and her father is Henry Franklin DeMent, of French heritage. ―My dad was a navy brat, the only son of a naval commander,‖
she noted. Jacqueline‘s grandfather was a Navy pilot. ―My parents met in the Marine Corps in San Diego,‖ she said. She is the youngest of three sisters–one is her twin (who is a minute older than she), and a half -brother from her Dad‘s second marriage to her step-mother of 24 years, Jinger. High school Jacqueline‘s mother remarried to Louie Cook, a Mohawk from Akwesasne, so the family relocated to Canton, New York
15 miles from the Canadian border, when she was in seventh grade. She lived there until she was a freshman in high school. Her step-father had a jazz radio show, at nearby St. Lawrence University. Next, she moved with her twin to Florida to stay with their biological father-while her mother and step-father moved back to South Dakota. (Continued on page 7)
Chretien continued… Returning to Rapid City Chretien says her real interest in math, and sciences developed while at liberal arts college. From there she came back to Rapid City, met her future husband and had a child, Leroy, who is now 5. The marriage didn‘t last and she has been the sole provider of Leroy since he was two weeks old. ―I‘ve just been juggling whatever works,‘ she said. When Leroy was older, she began taking classes part-time both at Oglala Lakota College and at the School of Mines, studying accounting. ―I realized I loved the School of Mines as soon as I came to campus—the professors, the atmosphere, and knew I had to stay but never realized I would pursue engineering,‖ she said. Then she met Dr. Carter Kerk, professor of industrial engineering, who helped persuade her toward Industrial Engineering. ―I made it work—applied for scholarships and got them,‖ she said. This year, her senior year, Jessie is the recipient of the Tiospaye Engineering Scholarship, which pays much of her tuition, provides tutoring, and assists in providing appropriate career placement or continued schooling following graduation. In her first
Jacqueline DeMent , B.S. civil engineer AISES Vice President
“I REALIZED I LOVED
few years at the School of Mines, Jessie also had a mentor in the WISE program (Women In Science and Engineering, directed by Royia Decker). She found the campus climate a good fit, making friends easily. She joined the cross country team on campus and ―spent her time well.‖ ―I didn‘t really struggle academically,‖ she said. ―It was definitely something to get used to—the difference—but I was always really good in school.‖ Through her years at the School of Mines she said that it was being a female student that stood out on campus rather than a minority. ―I know that math, engineering, and the sciences are seriously underrepresented by women and minorities, so I kinda knew coming in that I would be unique in the classroom,‖ she added. ―I think it‘s been good for everybody around.‖ Graduating May 2010, with a B.S in industrial engineering. Jessie said she‘s not sure what‘s on the horizon, but is open and looking ―for all opportunities.‖ She has taken the GRE in anticipation of graduate school, though she hasn‘t picked out a
school or specific program. She is currently investigating schools and various jobs she could get. ―I‘m pretty much open to living anywhere where the opportunities are. Leroy is open too, though he doesn‘t know it yet,‖ she laughs. Her message to incoming Native, female, and minority freshmen is: ―Don‘t be shy. I think a lot of Natives, especially coming off the res, have a tendency to seem shier or are shy because they don‘t make direct eye-contact usually. Also find study mates and don‘t give up.‖ Jessie says often times it can be intimidating in those first few classes where academically it might be a lot harder than a student anticipates and they might end up falling behind. ―Stick with it. Talk to the professors, they‘ll help you,‖ she said. The Office of Multicultural Affairs, she says, has also helped her somewhat by giving a ―safehaven‖ to come to do studying as well as helping socially. ―I met a lot of people here I‘ve become good friends with and have things in common with,‖ she said. ―It‘s been great for networking and friendships.‖ (Continued on page 6)
THE SCHOOL OF MINES AS SOON AS I CAME TO CAMPUS – THE PROFESSORS, THE ATMOSPHERE…AND KNEW I HAD TO STAY BUT NEVER REALIZED I WOULD PURSUE ENGINEERING,” SHE SAID. ”
Page 5
Student Spotlight Jessica Chretien continued...
Jessica (right) assists in the AISES Truss Bridge competition at the Rapid City Club for Boys last semester.
“THERE WERE JUST SO MANY BARRIERS I HAD TO CROSS BUT I KEPT AN OPEN MIND…” “DON’T LET THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN HOLD YOU BACK.”
Another successful AISES Indian Taco Sale! October 2009 Page 6
Since last summer, Jessie has been involved in an internship with the City of Rapid in the Solid Waste Division under Jerry Wright. ―He‘s been keeping me on ever since‖ using her industrial engineering skills. She completed a physical audit of their collection system ―spending a lot of hours outside in a truck, checking numbers.‘ This year, he asked her to assist with the company‘s solid waste management plan, and she‘s been get-
ting to consult with city council members. ―Everything that my boss gets to do I get to sit in on and experience so it‘s been really great,‖ she noted. As a member of and former AISES officer (vice president) and current Institute of Industrial Engineers officer (president), Jessie has traveled to the national conventions, including last year‘s AISES Convention in Anaheim, California. ― It was a lot of fun
and I got to meet a lot of people,‖ she said. As this year‘s recipient of the prestigious UPS scholarship for female students, Jessica traveled to an IIE Conference in Miami, Florida. She was also featured in the August 2009 IIE national magazine. She is part of the Industrial Engineering Honor Society, Alpha Pi Mu and also has participated in Drama Club, track and cross county.
Clarita Begishe continued... Caterpillar Scholarship. She is also a recipient of the prestigious Rocky Mountain College Scholarship. Clarita won the Coal SME (Society of Mining Engineers) Scholarship, a scholarship from Shiprock/Farmington Underground Mining, and the International Order of the King‘s Daughters and Sons North American Indian Scholarship, This year Clarita is part of the Tiospaye in Engineering Scholarship program, but decided to veer away from applying for more scholarships. ―I decided I am more of a private person, a family person, so I decided to pursue loans instead,‖ she noted. Work opportunities Clarita had the opportunity to work with numerous mining companies while here at the School of Mines. As a freshman, she first worked a summer internship with Kiewit Mining Group at their site based in Decker, Montana. Montana Kiewit asked her to come back again, but this last summer, she decided to work at Black Butte Coal Mine in Point
of Rocks, Wyoming, 50 miles from Rock Springs. From August to December 2008, she worked for the Canadian -owned, locally-based Wharf Resources Gold Mining Company. ―As I get more and more involved in mining, I don‘t know if I want to do surface or deep underground mining,‖ she noted, adding that she hopes to get involved in opportunities at the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab (DUSEL) in Lead, South Dakota. ―It‘s something I want to try—see if I can do it. I‘m also thinking about going to get my masters in mining,‖ Clarita said. Culture shock on campus “When I received the School of Mines brochure, I read it, and it said there was Native American culture here, and I thought, ‗Wow, there must be a lot of Lakota people here,‘ she said. ―When I got here and looked around, there was hardly anybody here, but there were a few Native American juniors and seniors, and they really helped me out.‖ It has improved
Clarita noted increasing improvements in the last few years on campus in the visibility of Native students, and women. ―It‘s grown so much. I see the support that‘s here,‖ she said, indicating the Office of Multicultural Affairs. ―But being Native, I don‘t think you should always protect yourself from others. Be open-minded.‖ Clarita, references her work in the coal mine, where she says she was never treated differently for being a woman or for being Native. She said that social networking is key at the School of Mines and wants to encourage Native freshmen to take full advantage of the Career Fairs, the tips given by, the South of Mines Career Center to be sociable and connect with people—Internships, getting your name out to get a job, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, AISES, and other clubs on campus. ―There were just so many barriers I had to cross, but I kept an open mind,‖ she said. ―Don‘t let the color of your skin hold you back.‖
Volume 1, Issue 2 Jackie DeMent Spotlight cont... She attended high school there for a year and a half, then moved to Hot Springs, South Dakota, and finished her high school years. Her sister, Rachel, stayed in New York, and attended Rochester Institute of Technology and is now an M.D. Education important to the family ―Growing up we were in private schools in California,‖ she said, adding that she was very young when her parents divorced. ―We moved back and forth a lot. I‘ve lived in California, Nebraska, South Dakota, Florida, and New York. I went to nine schools in 12 years.‖ Jacqueline credits her early experience at an academically-tough private school in California for providing an important strong educational foundation in her formative years. ―My dad always pushed us,‖ she said, ―‗Get A‘s, A-s, A-s and be good in school.‘ My mom was the same way , ‗be good in school, get a scholarship, get your degree.‘ It was just always ingrained since I was in kindergarten,‖ she laughs, ‗You‘re going to college!‘ because neither of them ever finished college.‖ Her mother worked for the tribe in various jobs in law enforcement, and her father was a self-taught businessman. ―Being a twin, making friends, and moving around that much was easy because we were unique,‖ DeMent noted. ―We had become very adaptable, outgoing, and friendly entering a new school, plus we were always very active in sports, which also gave us an automatic in to make more friends through athletics.‖ Jackie excelled in track, basketball, and volleyball in high school and this continued on into her college years. ―I was very decorated for high school track in Hot Springs, South Dakota. In the two years I was there, I won five state championships and two team championships,‖ she said, adding that during her high school time in New York, she was chosen as the only freshman to go to
state to compete in the 400 hurdles event. Being of mixed heritage, DeMent said she never experienced the racism in New York as she has in the Midwest. ―I don‘t know if it‘s because of the whole history of the United States— the clash between the Army and the Natives out here in the West— Wounded Knee, Custer— all those different battles experienced when the early settlers came out. I found it was difficult when I was younger and went to school on the reservation because I looked white,‖ she said, adding that when she would travel to border towns of Chadron, Nebraska or Scottsbluff they knew she was from the reservation. ―Then I got it from both sides.‖ The journey to the School of Mines Graduating high school from Hot Springs, DeMent had scholarships to attend the University of South Dakota for pre-med. ―I had academic and athletic scholarships and scored pretty high on my ACT-s so I could go anywhere I wanted,‖ she said. She initially chose USD for its indoor track and medical school. ―I went there for a year and didn‘t like it. I‘m from a small town, a country girl raised in West River. East River was really different, really preppy,‖ she said. ―I didn‘t really fit in.‖ Transferring her second year to play basketball at a Wyoming junior college, she blossomed. ―I did really well there, was sent to nationals that year and was really successful,‖ she said. Her third year, she transferred to Chadron State College, with her sights set on being a sports medicine doctor. ―I was in the athletics program at Chadron, taping all the football player‘s hands,‖ she said. ―Kinda the grunt job my first year in the program.‖ She withdrew in October of that year, tried to go back her second semester but it didn‘t work out. She
then met a friend of the family that she used to ride horses for, a 35-year retiree from AT&T who would compile crews to work with him. ―At that time, the big pull was fiber optics,‖ she said. ―It was big.‖ Charles Bush and Jacqueline DeMent repreHe used his engineering firm consenting on the AISES float for M-Week tacts to do fiber optic routes and he Parade. needed stakers. DeMent then 21, with three years of college behind her, got the job with an engineering firm in Denver, Colorado. ―But I was pre-med so the years didn‘t matter,‖ she said. Jackie “BEING A moved by herself to Denver to become a field representative. ―I TWIN, MAKmoved with everything I had in my ING FRIENDS car and lived in a hotel for the first two weeks,‖ she said, adding that AND MOVING she never went in the field once. AROUND THAT ―They got me in the office using the computers in the Auto-CAD proMUCH WAS grams and I caught on quickly,‖ she EASY BECAUSE said. ―I was pretty computer savvy anyhow so they made me a drafter.‖ WE WERE DeMent worked for the firm fullUNIQUE,” time making $14 an hour. ―From this, I started finding a DEMENT really big interest in engineering,‖ NOTED. she said. I thought, ‗Wow, this drafting is really cool because it adds creativity along with my scientific mind.‘ After a year in Denver, her father encouraged her to again move to Florida, as many of his clients were engineers. As a single girl, she was ready. In May of 2001, DeMent moved to Florida. For eight months in 2001 she worked a Florida surveying firm and eventually took a job at a civil engineering firm. Here she met Dennis (her exfiancé), the father of her son, Cadence, now 6. After giving birth, DeMent decided to try to stay home and go back to school. Resigning from the firm, she attended classes at a junior community college in drafting technology. In December 2003, she decided to move back to South Dakota with her five month-old baby. She worked with her uncle in the funeral business, then with Indian Health Service. (Continued on page 8)
Page 7
Volume 1, Issue 2 DeMent Spotlight cont... In the fall of 2005, DeMent decided to return to school to get her engineering degree. She moved to Rapid City, bought a house, but was still commuting back and forth from IHS in Martin (a four- hour drive) for 18 months. ―That was a hard year. I was still working for IHS, doing a lot of environmental engineering,‖ Jackie said. ―I was still going to class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.‖ In January of 2006, she had applied at a civil engineering firm, Dream Design International, based in Rapid City and also attended the School of Mines part-time. Her boss and several engineers she worked with were School of Mines alumni. ―To me that was God Sent, as it was right here in town,‖ DeMent noted. ―I plugged away the best I could the first three years I was in Rapid City,‖ she said. ―It wasn‘t until three years in going to school part-time and working part-time for the firm, that I made a breakthrough.‖ An internship at Montana Dakota Utilities opened up in April 2008 right across the street from the School of Mines, and she took it. ―It was geared toward a student engineer not a drafter working parttime and going to school part-time,‖ she said. Currently, DeMent works fulltime at MDU in the summer months and 10 – 15 hours during the school year or whatever her schedule allows. Scholarships Jackie received the coveted School of Mines Tiospaye Engineering Scholarship this fall which combined Pell grants and five other scholarships, to cover most of her tuition. She has been a past recipient of the American Indian Education Scholarship, several civil engineering scholarships from the School of Mines, including the AISES Dr. Jack Weyland Scholarship. She is also the recipient of her Oglala Sioux Tribe‘s Higher Education grant. ―This helped me get through summer school this summer,‖ she
Page 8
adding that she wouldn‘t have been that was just great.‖ able to go otherwise. Her financial ―I have received tremendous need is high, she said and because of support and from several people on this she receives a lot of scholarships. campus: Dr. Kenner (my advisor), Dr. Kate Alley, David Martin, Jolie Campus climate as a Native student McCoy, and Scott and Abena. They This year, she is focusing her believed in me and helped me through efforts on AISES where, she said, ―I some really tough times. I am etercan do more and make more of an nally grateful for their understanding impact.‖ and encouragement.‖ ―When I first came to campus in Though sports have taken a back ‘05, I was really excited, really, ‗gung seat for Jackie to focus on her studies, -ho.‘ The environment, however, was this year, she is also coaching her different at that time, and it seemed son‘s soccer team, the Rapid City difficult to be included. Mustangs. Last year, she was AISES secretary, and this year, she was voted in Bright future as vice president. Jackie will graduate in May 2011 ―I make a huge effort to make with her B.S. in civil engineering. She everyone feel welcome,‖ she said. has yet to choose her emphasis, and is ―I‘m very active, spearheading a lot looking at both environmental and of different things.‖ She has been at geotechnical engineering. She was the helm of establishing a mentor offered an internship last summer in program for incoming Native freshAlaska with American Native Tribal man, working with OMA coordinator, Health Consortium (ANTHC) but as a Scott Wiley and program assistant, single parent depending on her son‘s Abena Songbird this past summer to father, who was working overseas, to implement this, pairing with Native take Cadence, she missed the opporupperclassmen to help them navigate tunity. ―He didn‘t get back in time,‖ through the Mines experience and she said, adding that she harbors no aide in their retention. hard feelings. ―When that door ―Because I‘m a non-trad and closed, the internship for MDU have been in the real world on my opened up which is a year-round gig.‖ own a few years no one said, ‗do this, She says she also has IHS condo that,‘ the 30-year-old civil engitacts now in Alaska. ―My old boss neering student added. ―I know I‘ve still wants me to come back,‖ she fumbled through things a lot and said. I have opportunities, the Coal wished I‘d had someone to mentor Mining Summit… there‘s a lot, but I me, so I hope that this mentorship can‘t even begin to speculate where thing we‘re starting will help incom- I‘ll go.‖ ing Native freshmen not feel so alone, She is currently in a steady relabecause I felt that way as a non-trad. tionship with Patrick Van Loan, a Didn‘t go to parties, didn‘t go to Tri- master carpenter who has a daughter angle Club those kinds of things. I her son‘s age. was just a single mother trying to go ―She goes to the same school as to school.‖ my son. They are in the same grade The professors at this university and that‘s how Patrick and I met,‖ she make a -―huge effort‖- for single said. ―Another single parent.‖ Deparents, she says. She has brought Ment says the partnership is good Cadence into her classes before. they really balance out and comple―My industrial engineering proment each other. fessor used to work for a toy manuRecently, Van Loan, 31, spent six facturing company, and one day, he hours constructing a plywood tipi for brought one of his toy models in for the first AISES M-Week float. ―I was my son as a present while he was in so happy and proud that he offered to class with me,‖ she said. ―I thought help out. He is really supportive of that was just great. They‘d rather have me come to class with my son than (Continued on page 9)
AISES members Jackie DeMent & Charles Bush demonstrate the Vinegar Volcano at BHCH American Indian Science & Engineering Science Fair.
“OBVIOUSLY I WASN’T GOING TO STAY IN THE FUNERAL HOME – I WANTED TO GO BACK TO ENGINEERING,” SHE SAID.
Student Spotlight Student Spotlight—DeMent continued... Me. We all congregated at my house and worked together as a cohesive unit. AISES members, Patrick, and Abena, it was great!‖ she said, smiling.
“THE SKY’S THE LIMIT WITH US. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT ESPECIALLY AT THE SCHOOL OF MINES. ONCE YOU GET THAT MINES DEGREE – THERE’S NOTHING THAT CAN STOP YOU.”
Message to up and coming Native freshmen ―Use your resources: Scott and Abena. Take advantage of everything, every resource tool that you have,‖ she said. ―Utilize upper classmen; this mentor/ mentee program that we have now.‖ ―I grew up on the reservation and know the circumstances, situations you can encounter. Even though I don‘t look Native American I can relate to a lot of the students,‖ DeMent said. ―I know they can be discouraged because of the low minority population on campus especially if you‘re a woman and Native American but know you are not alone. We are trying to build a really good foundation for AISES
and all the Native American students. This school and Dr. Carter Kerk are doing a good job,‖ she added. ―Just take advantage of the upperclassmen while you can. Adam Dell [AISES president, B.S. IS-Health] is also doing a great job. I can‘t even say enough about him as far as what he‘s done for AISES and to represent our school and all the officers. Last year as a group, we had a huge turn around, and I think there‘s nothing but good things to come.‖ ―Stay positive, everyone struggles,‖ she reminded. ―It‘s a matter of getting back up and keep going. Don‘t settle for less. There are so many opportunities for Native Americans as far as financial assistance. The sky‘s the limit with us. I honestly believe that, especially at the School of Mines. Once you get that Mines degree there‘s nothing that can stop you.‖
Jacqueline puts the finishing touches on a banner for AISES M-Week float.
AISES recipient of 2009 SD Board of Regents Award
AISES Recipients of 2009 Board of Regents Award, from left: Lukasz Dubaj, Student Association President; President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D.; SDSM&T AISES President Adam Dell, SD Board of Regents President, Terry Baloun; Dr. Robb Winter; Scott Wiley, AISES Advisors. Front Row left: Abena Songbird, Program Assistant; Clarita Begishe, AISES Secretary; Jacqueline DeMent, AISES Vice President; and Dakota Young, AISES member.
On April 7, 2009, the School of Mines Chapter of AISES received the distinguished Certificate of Social Recognition for Community Service at a special banquet in the Surbeck Ball Room. Accepting the S.D. Board of Regents Award for AISES
was President, Adam Dell and Vice President, Jessica Chretien. AISES member Deanna Shoup also received a Board of Regents Award in recognition as Outstanding NonTraditional Student Organization Member.
Premier AISES Float “rockin” the M-Week Parade
Page 9
AISES
PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE
American Indian Science & Engineering Society chapter 501 E. Saint Joseph Street Rapid City, SD 57701 Phone: (605) 394-1828 Fax: (605) 394-2444 E-mail: Adam.Dell@Mines.sdsmt.edu
AISES Sponsored Events: Indian Taco Sales October 13 AISES National Conference Portland, Oregon Oct. 29 -31 United Blood Services AISES Blood Drive Nov. 17 Thanksgiving Cultural Feast with Children‘s Home Society Nov. 8th
Delegates for the October AISES National Conference in Portland, Oregon: Adam Dell Jacqueline DeMent Clarita Begishe Aarika Begay Derek Bankston Katy Buchy Dakota Young Jessica Tsingine AISES 2009 Officers: Adam Dell, president Jacqueline DeMent, vice president Clarita Begishe, treasurer Wee Conroy, secretary
Welcome New SDSM&T AISES Chapter Members! 2009-2010 AISES Members: Derek Bankston, new member Aarika Begay, new member Clarita Begishe, renewal Katherine Buchy, renewal Charles Bush, renewal Kimberlynn Cameron, new member Jessica Chretien, renewal Weewashte Conroy, renewal Daun Davids, new member Adam Dell, renewal Jacqueline DeMent, renewal William Ealy, new member Tom Fryslie, renewal Dawn Henderson, new member Liesl Knecht, new member Nathan Koch, new member Theresa LaRoche, new member Ryan Mclaughlin, new member Vern Pino, new member Shawndai Prue, renewal Jon Ramsey, new member Dan Reynolds, renewal Vanessa Sevier, new member Jessica Tsingine, renewal Tada Vargas-Black Bear, new member John Watters, new member Beau White, new member Deidre Wolf, new member Dakota Young, new member Kevyn Zephier, new member Daun Davids, new member
The School of Mines AISES Chapter meets weekly in the lower Surbeck OMA area and is always recruiting new members and further involvement from its current members. Elections for the four AISES Officers positions are held each spring. Nominations are open to national AISES student members.
We‘re on the Web! multicultural.sdsmt.edu/aises