WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1992
Hundreds of kids make perfect |
| By Cate Gilles Contributing Reporter A lot of dreams became reality on April 10 at Northern Arizona University when the members of the National Native American Honors Society gathered to celebrate the third annual banquet. Those attending nearly filled the field house. From elementary school kids to adults in college, a lot of pride shone on the faces of students who were honored for having attained a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Their pride was shared by parents, grandparents, school administrators and teachers who were there to back up their kids and to share that special joy in achievement It was also the realization of a dream for Dr. Frank Dukepoo, who had a vision a little more than ten years ago. He woke up in the early hours of an October morning and was given the idea that an honor society for native students could do a lot to increase self-esteem And achievement From that idea, the society has grown incredibly. Dukepoo said a lot of people told the first four organizers of the society that massive numbers of native students achieving perfect grade point averages would never happen. But Ray Newton, Rosie Binghain, Lee Cannon and Dukepoo did not give up. By the end of the coming summer, they hope to induct 1,000 high achievers. Dukepoo urged the students to hold on to goals and never give up. "Don't ever think that because you are an Indian in a white world you can't make it,' he told the audience. "My junior year in college I had a whopping 1. 16 GPA. I tried for medical school, but they didn't want me. I think that in every adversity there's a seed of the positive. That's our motto — never give up." 'Don't ever forget who you are or where you came from. Remember that we believe in the Great Spirit, in God, and in the idea that there is a plan for your life. This is a very old Indian idea, so we are coming full circle," Dukepoo said. For some of the young students, induction into the honor society made them more confident that their dreams are possible. |
Heather Anslow of Page Middle School said achieving her 4.0 GPA "took a lot of hard, hard work."
"I'm really excited tonight," she said. "I plan on being an archaeologist because it has interested me all of my life." Nearly 700 students were inducted into the honor society at the banquet. Iron Eyes Cody made a special appearance, made even more special when he arrived in spite of a detour to the medical center on the way because of illness. Cody spoke with great determination and left his wheelchair to stand at the podium in spite of obvious fatigue. He proceeded to patiently pose for photographs with every single group of students from all of the 67 schools who participated in the honor society this year. Other entertainers included Steve Darden, who also emceed the evening, the Dennehotso Singers, Doris Brodie and Robert Esplain. Byron Gorman gave a surprising performance of classical opera. He may be the first Navajo who will receive international acclaim as a singer of opera. Gorman, a music education major at NAU, has been selected as one of 80 singers selected to perform in the International Youth Choir at the next Olympic games in Spain. "I couldn't believe it, that I am one of 80 people selected out of the entire world. It didn't really hit me until I received the letter from Belgium," he said. "I feel like maybe I can start showing these younger kids that there are Native American college students who really do succeed--and it helps a lot to know that there are people like Dr. Dukepoo and Iron Eyes Cody who are out there as role models for me.' Gorman said he felt honored to be inducted into the society, and that Without his mother, Eunice Phillips Gorman, he would not have made it "Without her support in my education I would not have achieved the many things I have achieved," he said. Some of the dignitaries who attended were Hopi Tribal Chairman Vernon Masayesva and his wife, Reno Johnson from the White Mountain Apache, Lee Cannon, Flagstaff Mayor Chris Bavasi, NAU President Dr. Eugene Hughes, NAU administrators Dr. Patsy Reed and Dr. Ray Newton, and grocery owner Eddie Basha. |