NSU Students Receive Native American Awards

TAHLEQUAH Northeastern State University recently announced recipients of several Native American awards including the American Indian Merit Award, Deborah A. Scott Native American Achievement Award for Women, Dr. Rennard Strickland Indian University Scholars Award, Mary G. Ross Achievement Award, Heart of a Scholar Outstanding Senior Award, and Wilma P. Mankiller Leadership Award. Recipients and award criteria are below.

American Indian Merit Award
Rachael Crouse - Salamanca, NY (Seneca Tribe)
Kimberly McNac - Henryetta, OK (Creek Tribe)
Teresa Secondine Owens - Grove, OK (Delaware-Cherokee Tribe)
Established in 1977 by Ruth Arrington and Louis Peake, the American Indian Merit Award recognizes outstanding American Indian graduates who are at least 1/8 American Indian, have at least a 3.0 grade-point average, and have demonstrated leadership ability.

Dr. Rennard Strickland Indian University Scholars Award
Teresa Secondine Owens - Grove, OK
Established in 1996, the award honors Dr. Rennard Strickland, an NSU alumna, for his contributions to NSU and to the Native American people. The award is given each year to a member of the Indian University Scholars Society who has shown outstanding leadership and academic ability. Dr. Strickland is a nationally recognized scholar and authority of Federal Indian Law and is currently on the faculty at the University of Oregon School of Law. Owens is a member of the Delaware-Cherokee Tribe.

Heart of A Scholar Outstanding Senior Award
Rachael Crouse - Salamanca, NY
The award is presented to the one Native Scholar exemplifying the greatest insight into the teaching of Native youth through the utilization of exemplary methods. Crouse is a member of the Seneca Tribe.

Mary G. Ross Achievement Award
Raymond Rodgers II - Broken Arrow
Established in 1994, the award honors Mary G. Ross, an NSU alumna and the first Native American female engineer. Mrs. Ross has been an active member in the National American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES) organization for many years. This award is presented every year to a graduating NSU AISES member who has shown outstanding leadership ability in the NSU AISES Chapter. Rodgers is a member of the Cherokee/Senaca/Cayuga Tribes.

Wilma P. Mankiller Leadership Award
Sylvia Soap - Pryor
The award was established to honor Wilma P. Mankiller, the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom Award given by former President Clinton for outstanding contributions to her community. Soap is a member of the Cherokee Tribe.

Co-Sponsors of the scholarships were StorageTek Foundation of Louisville, CO; the NSU Foundation; and the Oklahoma Institute for Learning Styles.