16-ARIZONA DAILY SUN, Flagstaff, Arizona, Thursday, April 18, 1991
earn honor awards |
| FLAGSTAFF-About 325 American Indian students from elementary schools to the university level were inducted into the National Native American Honor Society on April 12 at Northern Arizona University.
The students, from the Four Comers region, southern Arizona and southern California, were honored for achieving a perfect 4.0 grade point average during a semester of their academic careers. On hand to congratulate the students for their academic achievement was Dr. John Tippeconnic, III, director of the Office of Indian Education, U.S. Department of Education. "You're beginning a journey that will take you through the rest of your life," Tippeconnic told the capacity crowd of about 450 students, teachers and parents at NAU's du Bois Conference Center. And he urged the students to "take additional steps in the right direction." Tippeconnic advised the students to "take school very seriously; learn all you can." He noted, "Knowledge and information is power. The more you know, the better decisions you're going to make about your future.: He encouraged the students to look ahead. "Have a dream; have a vision about what you want to do and where you want to be," |
Tippeconnic said. He asked the students to remember those people who helped them and to lend their assistance to other students.
Tippeconnic said the honored students could be proud of their accomplishments and their heritage. "Feel good - feel real good - about being American Indian. We have a strong history and a strong tradition as Indian people." Following Tippeconnic's keynote address, Vice Chairman of the Hopi Tribe Patrick C. Dallas told the students, "You are the pick of the crop. However, you are a long way from the completion of your education." He urged them to seek out and open doors of opportunities. Dr. Frank Dukepoo of NAU, founder and director of the National Native American Honor Society, noted that the honor society inducted 125 students from 23 schools last year. This year, the membership tops 450 students from 75 schools. In addition to the students who were honored, several educators also were recognized at the honor society banquet. Fannie Lomax of Teec Nos Pos Boarding School was named the Outstanding Teacher by the society. Recognized for outstanding achievements to the honor society were Anna Ridpath of Page Middle School and Susan Bartley and Martha Noon-Tomah, both of the Chinle School District. |