Pendleton will honor Native American students

MISSION – Every November, the Pendleton School District Board of Directors meets on the Umatilla Indian Reservation to mark it as Native American Heritage Month. On Monday, the meeting will be held in the commons of the Nixyaawii Education Center.

Pendleton School Superintendent Kevin Headings said that while the event happens in November, the district is enriched by its Native American students and staff throughout the school year.

“This is an opportunity every year that we honor our Native American students, so each of our schools have selected two to four students that will be recognized during the board meeting,” Headings said.

Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Matt Yoshioka said there is no one reason why the students are selected.

“Some are recognized for having great attendance, some for academics, and some for being incredible members of the school,” he said.

The annual event is hosted by the Pendleton School District Board of Directors and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Education Department. It will begin at 6 p.m.

This year’s recognized students are:

• Indie Cox and Abi Coy of McKay Elementary;
• Weptas Brockie, Myalyn Mills and Areas Cowapoo of Nixyáawii Community School;
• Calliope Simpson and Swatas Spencer of Pendleton Early Learning Center;
• Hayden Bonifer, Dakota McLaughlin and Miranda Dixon of Pendleton High School;
• Kahlyssa Brown and Sofia Simpson of Sherwood Elementary;
• Craig Logan, Savaya Cree Medicine Minthorn, Layla Berumen Spino and Aaron Veraga Castillo of Sunridge Middle School; and
• Sunhawk Lopez, Feather Najera, Brayen Marsh, Lelei Taula and Binesii Blair of Washington Elementary.

“On behalf of the CTUIR Board of Trustees, I would like to congratulate all the students who made such impressions on their teachers and principals to be chosen for this honor,” BOT Member at Large Lisa Ganuelas said. “Whether they are in an elementary, middle school or high school, I hope they continue to strive for excellence in the attributes that got them nominated and never stop the education process.”

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Photo from the Confederated Umatilla Journal: During Recognition Night in 2023, Sis Moses, Aurora Sohappy and Marilyn Spencer of the Pendleton Early Learning Center hold their certificates of recognition. This year’s event is set for 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18 at the Nixyáawii Education Center.

Editor’s note: This article contains information from CTUIR and the Pendleton School District.

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Elkhorn Media Group

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