Award recipients attribute success to a nuturing support network

Christine Wahl

10/2/2003 12:00:00 AM

Eagle Spirit Achievement Award recipients received words of encouragement and support along with plaques and certificates at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort on June 20.

The annual banquet honored Tribal members who have graduated from college degree programs or earned a grade point average of 3.5 or better. Song for the event was provided by High Spirit.

Keynote speaker Raul Venegas Jr., SECR director of Player Development, served as the voice of experience for the graduates and honor students. A 1999 graduate of Saginaw Valley State University, he has a bachelor of business administration in marketing. He also is an alumnus of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Leadership program.

Venegas quoted author James Baldwin, "The crown is already bought and paid for; all you have to do is put it on your head." According to Venegas, education is that crown.

"It gives me great pleasure to know that so many of you are giving yourself a gift by furthering your education," he stated. "This not only secures the future for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, but also secures it for yourself."

Graduate Dustin Davis, 25, agreed. As the assistant director of Ziibiwing Cultural Society, he is involved in creating and developing new programs that will affect and enhance the lives of many Tribal members.

Venegas credited much of his success to the support of his parents.

"They have been a great influence in my life," he explained.

Sub-Chief Robert Pego Sr., who gave the invocation, also encouraged the students and graduates to have confidence in their abilities.

"I was the shiest member of my family," said Pego. "When I heard God's call, I thought, �If God feels I can do this, then I can,' and I took that attitude into college."

Tribal students have received support from each other as well. Higher Education Coordinator Sharon Skutt, who coordinated the banquet, noted the generous spirit of the students, and how they encourage each others' success.

"One example is David Charles," she said. "He just received his master's degree-at age 23-and during his time at U of M, he had an open invitation to Tribal member students to visit him in Ann Arbor. He offered to show them around the campus and answer their questions about college life."

Graduate Gretchen Walraven, 25, of Essexville, talked about the support from the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe.

"The Tribe always pushes us to go to school because it recognizes how important education is," she said. "And the Tribe's rewards are wonderful. Without their financial assistance, I never could have gone away to school."

Attending Loyola College in Maryland to complete her master's degree in speech and language pathology took Walraven far away from home. Now back in Michigan, she plans to use her degree to help the Tribe's children.

"Coming home is so important to me," said Walraven. "I hope to work right here with the children at the Saginaw Chippewa Academy."

While grateful for the loving support of his parents, Venegas also recognized the value of self motivation. "I know that getting through college requires more than support," he said. "You have to be willing to motivate yourself and give yourself 100 percent.

"I offer myself as an example. I got a job with the casino after college as a marketing assistant. I had ideas to make my business more profitable, risks that made me the first promotions manager, heading a department I built from the ground up." His managerial skills resulted in a high profit margin and a promotion to director of Player Development.

The current academic year produced 78 Incentive Award winners consisting of students currently enrolled in colleges and universities throughout the country who maintained a 3.0 or better grade point average.

"Forty percent of our Incentive Award recipients also received Academic Achievement Awards this year," said Skutt. "I think that speaks well for the encouraging effect of the Incentive Award program."

In his closing remarks to the graduates, Venegas encouraged his audience to consider their futures.

"It's the year 2003," he stated. "Think for just a moment about the year 2010, only seven years away. Think about where you'd like to be and who you'd like to become. Today is your starting point; it begins right here."

Graduates:

Mary Bukowiec, Associate/Business Management, Northwood University; David Charles, Master of Science/Engineering, University of Michigan; Dustin Davis, Bachelor of Applied Arts/Entrepreneurship, Central Michigan University; Carmen De Los Santos, Certificate/Computer Aided Drafting, University of New Mexico � Valencia Campus; Mark Dissinger, Bachelor of Business Administration/Finance, Texas Wesleyan University; William McClain, Associate Occupational Studies/Automotive/Diesel and Industrial Technology, Universal Technical Institute Phoenix; Scott McLellan, Certificate/Refrigeration/Heating/Air Conditioning, Associate in Applied Science/Welding Engineering Technology, Delta College; Marcus Peters, Master of Arts/Native American Studies, University of California � Davis; Mario Shawano, Certificate/Mobile Electronics, Mobile Dynamics; Jason Voorheis, Bachelor of Fine Arts/Art & Design, Northern Michigan University; Gretchen Walraven, Master of Science/Speech & Language Pathology, Loyola College in Maryland

Academic Achievement Award Recipients:

Sharon Avery, Central Michigan University

Elizabeth Bennett, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Terry Bonnau, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, MMCC

Mary Bukowiec, Northwood University

Denise Cantu, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Linda Craig, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Kayle Crampton, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Amanda Falcon, Mid Michigan Community College

Tracey Groom, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Christina Halliwill, Delta College

Estella Halliwill, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Glenna Halliwill, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Dustin Johnson, Michigan State University

Ronda Jones, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Gloria Larson, Muskegon Community College

Dawn Meredith, Savannah Colleg of Art & Design

Melissa Montoya, Central Michigan University

William McClain, Universal Technical Institute Phoenix

Gloria Mulbrecht, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Carla O'Brien, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Alexis Pelcher, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Sheridan Pelcher, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

David Perez, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Mary Perez, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Amy Shawboose, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Christopher Sineway, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Connie Sprague, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College

Cara Valdez, Oakland Community College

April Voorhees, University of Michigan

Andrew Wagner, New Hampshire Community College

Gretchen Walraven, Loyola College