We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
The Aaniiih Nakoda College TRIO program, Native American Career Technology Education Program (NACTEP) and American Indian College Fund (AICF) programs collaborated to take our students on a couple of college visits over the course of this semester, both of which ending with resounding success.
Our first trip started with a short 6 hour drive to Missoula, Montana to attend University of Montana's Native Student Griz preview day. On the day of the event, we were greeted by a large host of students from various communities across the state, all there for the same reason. The event was set up like a conference, with students being able to choose what 20-minute lecture they wished to attend, based on their interests. After the event itself, the students split up so they could talk with more specific representatives from various departments around the University. By doing this, the students were able to get more detailed information regarding their plans of study. At the end of the night, the students were able to relax at the Kyiyo powwow.
The following week, we took a group of four students to Bozeman, Montana for a trip to visit Montana State University. This time around, the tour was put on by the admissions office at the university, and entailed specific meet and greets with the computer science department, since all of the students who joined us were planning to go into that field. We arrived the day before, which allowed us to grab a nice dinner as well as visit the hot springs to relax before the busy day ahead. The next day, our tour started bright and early, as we got to tour the buildings of the university and arrived finally at the American Indian Hall, which houses Native student success services and the Native American studies programs. After getting to meet the staff a faculty of the American Indian and Alaska Native Student success services, we moved on to the computer science department, where the students started by having the opportunity to use some robotics equipment. We then got to talk with the head of the department, as well as a few advisors, where students got to ask questions about specifics in their field and learn about what majors within CS are specifically offered. By the end of the day, the students may have been tired, but they were also incredibly motivated to continue through school and attend MSU. We wrapped up the day with a nice steak dinner with the Native American Studies staff and faculty.
All told, both trips while different were very successful. Of the four students that went on the UM trip, two of them are starting school there for the 24/25 school year, and one is in the process of applying for an online 2+2 program. Similarly, of the four students who attended the MSU visit, one is already enrolled and planned to attend for the 24/25 school year. Of the remaining three, two are very excited and planning on applying to MSU once they finish their associates at Aaniiih Nakoda College.
