Papayas_101 2016, pipeline program, Telling Your Story, Uncategorized

Trisha is awesome because…

Hello, Im Trisha Smith from Lummi Nation in Bellingham WA. I see myself as an artist, runner, creative thinker, and shy. I go to Ferndale High school this is going to be my final year of high school which is very exciting. This program is amazing and I love it, third year attending cant wait to see what happens this week. Being shy puts me in difficult situations at school because I don’t like being a presenter in front of so many people. My favorite sport to play is volleyball. I never wanted to learn any other sport in middle school because I always played volleyball. I can listen to anything music but jazz. Jobs that I have done were within the tribe, I was titled as part of the work crew for a couple of years to clean, cut grass, and pick up garbage for about five weeks in the summer. Now I work in Human Resources with tribal members in Lummi Indian Business Council (LIBC), I took time off to be part of this program. I plan to go to a college here in California my dream college is San Fransisco University to major in Business marketing or accounting. My second choice is to attend a college close to home, possible in Seattle.

Getting to know me#1 I adore kittens but I like having a dog as a pet.

danielgfabian 2016, pipeline program, writing

Daniel Fabian First Blog

My name is Daniel Fabian and I am from Pomona, California. I am Native American and I’m also apart of the Pit River Tribe located in northern California. I see myself as a dreamer because I have a lot of goals I hope to accomplish. I currently go to Damien High School and will be a senior.daniel2 I have been to some native pipeline events at Western University in the past. A special project I have done at my school was to raise money and buy various items for families who couldn’t afford to give their family a good Christmas. Recognitions I have obtained at my school was Green Honor Roll and outstanding achievement in a chemistry course which means I finished top five in that course. I have not publicly given a speech before but maybe someday I will. Volunteer jobs I’m proud of is being a helper at a elementary school in which I taught 1st graders math and made sure they were able to understand the concepts. I hope to be less shy and quiet in the future because it is problem that I need to overcome.

 

eshulter2238 2016, applications, Higher Education, News, pipeline program

2016 Recommendation Links Now Available

Good Morning Everyone!

It’s already February and just the other day it was January 1st, 2016!

Recommendation Links for both 2016 Mentor and Student Applications are now available.

Mentor Recommendation Link: http://forms.pitzer.edu/cec-mentor-recommendation-form/#gf_36

Student Recommendation Link: http://forms.pitzer.edu/cec-student-recommendation/

You can also find either of these by clicking on the 2016 Applications and then either the Student or Mentor Application tab in the Dropdown menu.

Please remember, you need 2 recommendations from someone who knows you and your work well – a teacher, a mentor, a boss, etc.

It’s never too early to ask for recommendations if you are applying for the program.

eshulter2238 2015, Media Studies, Native Culture, News, pipeline program, Telling Your Story, WesternU, writing

Native Youth to College Progam and the GenI Challenge

Last Summer (2015), the students of Pitzer/WesternU’s Native Youth to College Program took on the Generation Indigenous Challenge by President Obama and the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY).

The Generation Indigenous Challenge asks Native youth “to work with other youth in their community or at their school to do something positive of their choosing [within 30 days of accepting the challenge].”

Our Result?

Finding Our Way to College. A book by Native Youth for Native Youth.

http://issuu.com/nativeyouth2college/docs/nativeyouth2collegefinal

Finding Our Way to College is a survival guide filled with practical advice, tips, and stories from Native Youth to College students navigating the college application process.

“My goal is to get to college, and I’ve motivated myself to make new connections in the Indian community around the world. I’d like to share my experiences and offer those opportunities to help you apply too! As royalty and a senior, I want to be a role model for others and show them the guidance, motivation, and support.”

“About 1% of American Indians attend my high school and most of them fail classes. We have an American Indian meetings every month and I want to tell them about this program and let them know that it can help them with college experiences and future College applications. However, if they are not interested in this program, I can give them tips about creating their College App. I want everyone to be successful and happy with where they are, especially my people.”

Take some time to flip through the book and read it. Share it with your friends, family, community, and school.

2015 Native Youth to College session students, we are proud of you for working so hard on this, sharing your experiences, telling your story, and being role models for other youth. 

A shout out to Gina Lamb, Pitzer Media Studies Professor, Edwin Gomez, and other Media studies students who worked on getting this ready for us!

#GenI #NativeYouth #TellingYourStory #GenerationIndigenous #Challenge

eshulter2238 2016, applications, Higher Education, Life Skills, Native Culture, News, pipeline program, WesternU

2016 Applications Are Out!

Okay, so the moment you all have been waiting for is here!

The 2016 Native Youth to College Applications are out!

We will be having both the Online and PDF version available. Right now, only the Online applications for both the mentors and the students are available. A PDF version to download will be coming soon. They can be accessed below.

Please go to the Application Page – https://nativeyouth2college.org/2016-applications/ – and select either drop down link for further information on the applications themselves, important dates, etc.

Important Due Dates for both:

  • Application Deadline                                                Friday, April 29th, 2016 at 5PM
  • Notification of Decision                                           Friday, May 13th, 2016 at 5PM

If you have any questions regarding the applications or anything else, please contact Program Director Scott Scoggins at 909.706.5948 or scott_scoggins@pitzer.edu.

Good luck and we look forward to reading all your applications.

mkuauhtzin 2015, Azteca, Field Trips, Mexica, Native Culture, pipeline program

The Little Things in Life

It was wonderful to be back at Wishtoyo once again. Before the arrival of Europeans, my People (the Mexica) traded and connected with the Chumash People. Each time I step onto Wishtoyo I feel as if once again the threads connecting our Peoples are being mended. The land is so beautiful, and it’s an amazing feeling to know at least this part of the land, the village, is being taken care by its People. As the land does not belong to the People rather the People belong to the land. 

I enjoyed seeing all the students from the program show a different side to themselves that was free, open, and curious. Being at Wishtoyo does something special to you, especially when you are indigenous. For me I feel more connected to the ancestors and nature. I feel as if time has stopped, and I can focus on the small things in life like laughing, loving, and learning. It was incredible to see and hear that each student enjoyed what little time we spent at Wishtoyo. Despite only being at Wishtoyo for about a day and a half, as a group we were able to share songs, dances, and stories under the night sky and by the fire. I was humbled to be able to share a dance from my People’s culture with everyone there. However, I have to admit that one of my favorite things about Wishtoyo are the three German Shepherds which truly help make Wishtoyo feel like a home away from home. Mati, Luhui, and everyone else at Wishtoyo make all who visit feel as if they are apart of a greater family. What a magnificent time at Wishtoyo, I can’t wait for next time.   

eshulter2238 2015, Mentors, News, pipeline program

Mentor – Pedro Garcia

I would like to introduce Pedro Garcia as a 2015 Pipeline Program mentor!

Pedro Garcia Pic 2Pedro Garcia Pic

My name is Pedro Garcia and I was born in Cruz Quemada, Guerrero, Mexico. Although I only lived there for a few years, I take pride in knowing that my first breath, steps, and words were on the lands of my ancestors. Because of the steady increase in violence and drugs in my home state, my parents believed a life away from Mexico would be the best option for raising a child. I received all of my K-12 education in Paso Robles, Ca, and it was there, in Georgia Brown Elementary School, that my love of birds blossomed. I still remember that sunny evening, on the walk back home from another 4th grade-filled day, coming face to face with my first raptor, a Red-tailed Hawk.

            That curiosity I had in raptors, and later birds overall, would eventually lead me to obtain my B.S. degree in Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal science at CSU, Fresno. Currently, I am finishing my Master in Biology: Urban Ecology, researching the effects that urban noise and socioeconomics have on local bird populations. Through this type of work, I hope to add to the knowledge that is currently known about the effects of urban development to our natural surroundings.

            Apart from Biology, my other passions include working with minority/Native American youth, helping them keep a firm grasp of their culture, and merging that knowledge with biology and conservation. I am an active Aztec dancer and drummer here in Fresno, CA and use both my teachings in Native American culture and knowledge in the field of Biology to reach out to our young and growing leaders. In 2007 I became involved with the Peace and Dignity Journeys, an Indigenous run that lasts 7 months and spans all of North and South America. As an organizer and core runner, I do my best to help bring awareness of our people’s struggles, one mile at a time.