Salish Kootenai College graduates earn degrees
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Salish Kootenai College graduate Ciera Kennedy accepts her diploma from college president Robert R. DePoe III.
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Graduates and guests fill the Joe McDonald Fitness Center Saturday, June 6, for the 2015 Salish Kootenai College graduation ceremony.
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As an SKC student, graduate Noel Stewart worked on the Mars Rover with NASA
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Family and friends gather outside to congratulate graduates.
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Lieutenant Governor Angela McLean gives the commencement address Saturday at Salish Kootenai College.
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Yamncut drummed and head dancers Linda King and Wilbert Michel Sr. led the Salish Kootenai College graduates of 2015 into the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center on June 6, and Chief Cliff drummed them out into the world.
Traditionally the women wear shawls, and the men wear vests during graduation. Many followed the tradition, some adding more items of regalia.
The graduates were the stars of the show, and many luminaries came to pay tribute to the grads’ hard work, give advice and wish them well, including three sisters — all 2015 SKC graduates — Kathryn, Phylicia and Janeal McDonald.
Lieutenant Governor Angela McLean gave the commencement address.
“I encourage you graduates to be the single best voice for SKC, and opportunities in Indian Country,” she said. “Your diploma is a ticket to dream big and to do big.”
If your dreams aren’t making you a little uncomfortable or anxious, then you haven’t set them high enough, according to McLean, who noted some of the graduates were the first in their family to graduate from college.
“You are models to kiddos around the room,” McLean said. “Education is the great American equalizer.”
Urging the graduates to find a way to bring their “gifts and talents back to Montana,” McLean said to look challenges in the eye and meet them head on.
“Be brave and dare greatly,” she said.
Honorary degrees were presented to Jaune Quick-to-See Smith and Evelyn Stevenson. Stevenson’s degree was presented posthumously since she passed away on March 13. Her son Craig Stevenson accepted the award.
“What made her fire burn white hot was
injustice,” he said.
One of Evelyn’s many accomplishments was the signing of the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Craig remembered a colleague of Evelyn’s seeing the light burning late in her office and stopping to say, “You can’t save all the children.”
“Her response was ‘Yes, I can,’” Craig said.
Smith, a world-renowned artist, was born in St. Ignatius.
“My story is not Dick and Jane,” she said.
When she was born, her mother was 15. While her father was at work, when Smith was 2 years old and her sister was younger, their mother left them with an elderly Indian couple near their home in Washington state, and they never saw her again.
Their Metis father raised the girls, and though Smith remembered her father as a kind and gentle man, he was not when he drank.
She went to school, ate paste and crayons — “the paste wasn’t bad” — and learned to read. Even after a day working in the fields at age 8 for their Japanese neighbors, she said she’d climb a tree and read, even though her family teased her about it.
Stressing the importance of culture, Smith said culture is the creation story, the way we greet a new child, bury the dead, teach children and dance.
“Not only do our parents give us life, but our tribes do, too,” Smith said. “Never forget that this place has helped shape you.”
Dr. Sandra Boham, SKC vice president of academic affairs, presented Effie Clairmont, an SKC liberal arts instructor, with the school’s 2014 teacher of the year award, the highest honor the faculty awards.
After congratulating the graduates and reiterating the other speakers’ messages, SKC President Robert DePoe III said next spring the college will provide free and low cost health care for all SKC students.
As alumni the graduates may also come visit the college and see the new student union center.
“We might feel pretty good about where are today, but we need to continue to press forward. We can’t sit back in the La-Z-Boy and watch the finals, we must get back to work,” DePoe finished.
2015 SKC graduates:
Bachelor of Arts Tribal Historic Preservation
Angela Iukes
Regina Mad Plume
Melanie Manuel
Kathryn McDonald
Associate of Arts Tribal Historic Preservation
Patrick Chiefstick Jr.
Wayne Freeman
Dana Hewankorn
Grey Johnson
Kayla Johnson
Natasha LaRose
Jennifer Phelps
Duane Reid
Sasha Rivers
Bachelor of Science Hydrology
Steven Ashley
Robert Davis
Noel Stewart
Associate of Science Hydrology
Travis Beauvais
Tyler Fouty
Stefon Martinez
Bachelor of Arts Psychology
Christopher Curry
Eugenia Eden-Moore
Phylicia McDonald
Associate of Arts Psychology
Eugenia Eden-Moore
Ashley Felsman
Brooke Filesteel
Dylan Kelly
JaNeal McDonald
Dawne Scott
Brandy Tenas-Glantz
Consuelo Trevino
Bachelor of Science Early Childhood Education
Andrea Adams
SallyAnne Jack
Kathleen Smith
Michelle Williamson
Associate of Arts Early Childhood Education
Kaitlyn Blandov
Lona Boushie
Louis Mayuk Caye
Brenda Richey
Bachelor of Science Elementary Education
Shana Brown
Tara Chee
Aimee Dixon
Matthew Flatlip
Krystal Four Souls
Cody Henderson
Melissa Henderson
Aaron Henry
Kaycee Henry
Elizabeth Jordan
Kiersten Meeks
Dustan Mills
Chase Nevarez
Dakota Peterson
Vanessa Sanchez
Florencine Stump
Misty Tatsey
Paul Venters
Winter Whitford
Associate of Science Elementary Education
Autumn Adams
Shawnna Berthelote
Taylor Bremner
Candace Coxen
Donelle DeRoche
Jennifer Heavy Runner
Tommy Heavy Runner
James Ives
Kelsey Kerney
Jeffrey Krahn
Aspen Many Hides
Kristin Sansavere
Joe Thompson
Lydell Whiteman
Bachelor of Science Secondary Science Education
Stephanie Fisher
Faith No Runner
Bachelor of Science Wildlife & Fisheries
Brian Cahoon
Bachelor of Science
Environmental Science Terrestrial Resources
Brandon Diller
Loga Fixico
Harvey Sansavere Sr.
Associate of Science
Environmental Science Terrestrial Resources
Marcy Mead
Bachelor of Science Forestry
Lydina Big Man
Robert Jensen
Kelly O’Bennick
Associate of Science Forestry
Loga Fixico
Bachelor of Social Work
John Colliflower IV
Carla DeVoe
Elizabeth Hawkins
Karissa Moore
Teresa Nightingale
Chaniel Running Crane
Associate of Arts Chemical Dependency Counseling
Candace Anderson
Thomas Brandon
Claudia Cunningham
Rainelle Edmo
Joel Grosh
Ruben Quintana
Abdel Russell
Miranda Stevens
Holli Wilson
Corina Wolf Black
Bachelor of Arts Business Administration
Paula Bremner
Ciera Kennedy
Carla Torosian
Bachelor of Arts Business Entrepreneurship
Chiffon Clark
Associate of Arts Business Management
Angie Brazill
Zachary Camel Jr.
Teague Evans
Darrel Fish
Ricci Gonzales-Jones
Seneca Incashola
Michelle Matt
Winona Pierre
Alexis Scott
Eddie Stillwell
Isaac Wal
Bachelor of Science Information Technology
Vincent Bad Bear
Kevin Burland
Associate of Science Information Technology
Trey Payne
Albert Plant Jr.
Larry Smith
Associate of Arts Media Design
Jordana Bass
Levi Laverdure
Bachelor of Science
Life Sciences -Cellular Biology
Marthe Van Sickle
Bachelor of Science
Life Sciences-Environmental Health
Stephanie Irvine
Trey Saddler
Associate of Science General Science
Allison Grant
Coy Harwood
Associate of Arts Fine Arts
Nicholas Foust
Patricia Hurley
Associate of Arts Liberal Arts
Shireen Brigman
Vanessa Demarais
Kelly Gibson
Jadi Reynolds
Joshua Tailfeathers
Leah Wynecoop
Associate of Arts Native American Studies
Ellen Bigcrane
Erica Flett
Stormie Perdash
Robert Wynecoop
Certificate of Completion Native American Studies
Gavin Eldridge
Allison Rae Grant
Camas McClure
Associate of Applied Science
Business Technology
Richard Adolph
Amber Francis
Latydia Holiday
Lori Kurtzenacker
Julie McDonald
Associate of Applied Science Dental Assisting
Brantlee Fish
Kimberly Matt
Certificate of Completion Dental Assisting
Lakin Brendible
Brantlee Fish
Karli Manson
Kimberly Matt
Merissa Pablo
Melanie Upham
Certificate of Completion Office Professions
Charmaine Arcand
Amber Francis
Latydia Holiday
Lori Kurtzenacker
Emerald Tucker
Certificate of Completion Medical Office Clerk
Charmaine Arcand
Valerie Bartell
Tashina Brown
Amber Francis
Shelly McConville
Emerald Tucker
Certificate of Completion Highway Construction
Hunter Bighorn
Wilford BirdinGround
Sheldon Brown
Bartholomew Chief
Tracy Christensen
Michael DeFrance
Todd Espinoza
Shelly Flamand
James Gray
Logan James-Lee
Myles Metzger
Natasha Reed
Andrew Shepherd
Fred Webster
Claytin Whitford
