Encouraging educational success

Intertribal Graduation Powwow honors students, provides guidance and resources

By Colleen Keane
Special to the Times

ALBUQUERQUE, June 12, 2014

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(Special to the Times – Colleen Keane)

Chad Susan, Apache & Din4, and several other members of the Apache Club at SIPI help out at the Apache Club’s food store during the graduation powwow.




Two years ago, Kris Kinlicheenie, Diné from Shiprock, didn’t have any idea she would be on a path leading to graduate school.

After securing her associate degree at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute recently, Kinlicheenie received a full scholarship to the University of New Mexico where she plans to study pharmacy.

“I am very fortunate and thankful to the Great Spirit and the positive energy among our cultures,” said Kinlicheenie.

To pass this energy along, Kinlicheenie attended the Intertribal Graduation Powwow held at SIPI last Saturday where she encouraged other students to reach for the stars when it comes to educational attainment.

“I want to see a lot of Native American students graduate, prosper and have that determination to continue on – not just a two-year college, but to go on at the university level to reach their master’s and PhDs."

The Intertribal Graduation Powwow honored all 2014 American Indian and Alaska Native graduates from Head Start to high school to college programs, noted Amber Carrillo, one of the organizers for the event, who said it was the first of its kind.

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