My name is Jennifer DeVerney and I work at Herzing University as an Intern and Employer Outreach Specialist with the Career Services Department. I am a proud member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians located from Manistee, Michigan.
I have worked really hard to get to where I am today, and have been blessed to hold a career in education where I help change people’s lives on a daily basis regardless of their race. To “Think Indian” means so much more than just casinos, feathers, reservations, or pow wows. What “Think Indian” means to me is to know your culture, live it, take part in it, and be grateful and proud of your ancestry. In addition it means to be respectful, friendly, and courteous to your fellow man or woman.
Every day I strive to be the best example I can be to my children, co-workers, friends, family, and to our next generation. Being Native American allows me to hold my head up high and be proud of the many accomplishments of our people as well as my own. It is my identity, who I am, and no one can take that away from me.
Jennifer DeVerney
Internship & Employer Outreach Specialist, Herzing University
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
College Fund on the airwaves
American Indian College Fund President and CEO Richard B. Williams and Casey Lozar, Director of Corporate and Tribal Relations, will appear on Colorado and Company on Channel 9, KUSA-TV in Denver on Thursday, September 24, from 10-11 a.m.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
American Indians Are Still Here-Guest Blog
We will be running a series of guest blogs about what it means to “Think Indian” in today’s world. This week we will run the first of our guest blogs. “Thinking Indian” is not just a slogan or idea put out by the American Indian College Fund. “Thinking Indian” is how people in the Native community live their lives and strike the balance between their lives as Indian people and mainstream society in college, in family life, and in the workplace. We welcome your stories and look forward to hearing from you! Please send your submissions, 200 words or less, to dhorwedel@collegefund.org
I embrace this opportunity to write about my challenges in mainstream academic institutions. Recently I was walking down the hall in a building on campus when I noticed a big sign over a bulletin board displaying in large letters the word “Diversity.” I stopped for a look.
Upon examination of the board I noticed the board contained a world map, greetings in many languages, and student organizations which represented all but one race. The missing race was American Indians. It made me think for a minute or two about whether or not the termination and assimilation policies of the U.S. federal government had been successful in convincing non-Natives that American Indians are gone. But more likely, it is the case my current academic institution is unaware of American Indians because the state has no federally recognized Indian tribes.
Nevertheless, there are both graduate and undergraduate American Indian student organizations on campus, and the absence of American Indians on this department’s bulletin board is merely a naive mistake; although, often the pedagogy and heuristics of history, government, and politics treat American Indians the same as the aforementioned department bulletin board. I believe it is important as a student to connect with the local Indian community in order to gain the balance necessary for success in big mainstream academic institutions. It has been important to me.
Jason Oberle
2010 Masters in Public Affairs candidate
Read Jason's American Indian Policy Blog
I embrace this opportunity to write about my challenges in mainstream academic institutions. Recently I was walking down the hall in a building on campus when I noticed a big sign over a bulletin board displaying in large letters the word “Diversity.” I stopped for a look.
Upon examination of the board I noticed the board contained a world map, greetings in many languages, and student organizations which represented all but one race. The missing race was American Indians. It made me think for a minute or two about whether or not the termination and assimilation policies of the U.S. federal government had been successful in convincing non-Natives that American Indians are gone. But more likely, it is the case my current academic institution is unaware of American Indians because the state has no federally recognized Indian tribes.
Nevertheless, there are both graduate and undergraduate American Indian student organizations on campus, and the absence of American Indians on this department’s bulletin board is merely a naive mistake; although, often the pedagogy and heuristics of history, government, and politics treat American Indians the same as the aforementioned department bulletin board. I believe it is important as a student to connect with the local Indian community in order to gain the balance necessary for success in big mainstream academic institutions. It has been important to me.
Jason Oberle
2010 Masters in Public Affairs candidate
Read Jason's American Indian Policy Blog
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
20 Years of Support--Thank You!
On Sunday, we were thrilled to meet LA Lakers coach Phil Jackson and support a charity near and dear to his heart. Jackson has been a long-time supporter of the American Indian College Fund, and will be one of our celebrity co-chairs for the Fund's 20th Anniversary Flame of Hope Gala in Denver, Colorado on Wednesday, October 28.
We are thrilled and honored to have the support of people like Phil Jackson and yourself. As you have walked the road with us to support American Indian education, it is the students who benefit from your dedication. Since 1989, we have raised funds for more than 70,000 scholarships for American Indian students. Thank you to all of you for your support!
We are thrilled and honored to have the support of people like Phil Jackson and yourself. As you have walked the road with us to support American Indian education, it is the students who benefit from your dedication. Since 1989, we have raised funds for more than 70,000 scholarships for American Indian students. Thank you to all of you for your support!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
20th Anniversary Flame of Hope Gala Oct. 28
Irene Bedard, Benjamin Bratt and L.A. Lakers coach Phil Jackson, celebrity co-chairs of the American Indian College Fund’s 20th anniversary Flame of Hope Gala, would like to invite you to join us for an evening of fun and celebration in Denver, Colorado.
You will be treated to a headlining performance by “The Empress of Soul,” Ms. Gladys Knight, along with Native drum groups and a fine arts auction.
Hattie Kauffman of The Early Show, CBS, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies. Other program highlights from the evening will include stories of hope and courage from our tribal college students and a first look at the THINK INDIAN television campaign. All proceeds from the evening will provide scholarships to American Indian students and help support the 33 tribal colleges in the United States.
Attire is black-tie or Native dress.
For more information and to buy tickets, go to www.collegefund.org
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