Creighton University
LAKOTA IMMERSION - MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
2012

2010 Students and Mentors

This program, Creighton’s initial immersion, was conceived of by Tami Buffalohead and Raymond Bucko in 2003. The year after this program Student Support Services and the Cardoner program expanded the concept to student trips. The Lakota Immersion program is now part of Creighton’s Gateway Program headed by Student Support Services and Tamy? Jessica?. This trip is unique as it is funded by the President’s Office and Creighton Staff who volunteer their time. This is also the only Gateway trip in which faculty and staff participate in as a group.

The Lakota immersion - mentorship program for Creighton University administration, faculty and staff includes working with Lakota high school students who are preparing for college, visiting historical and cultural sites on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations, and a dialogue with Lakota students currently enrolled at Creighton as well as with other Lakota living on the reservations.  We will work with students at Red Cloud High School, a Jesuit highschool on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Red Cloud High School has nurtured 39 Gates scholars since the inception of the Gates Millennium Scholars Program in 1999. Thirty-two of those scholars have received their scholarship since the Creighton University mentorship program began. Last year 9 students were awarded the scholarship. The real heroes of this achievement are the students themselves and their families and teachers, both at Red Cloud and in their communities. Creighton has played a small but important part of the process of winning the Gates. Your coming on our immersion trip can be a big part of our commitment to both learn about the reservation from which many of our students come and to assist and encourage these students with their applications.

Events:

Our events are designed to allow each mentor to get to know her/his protégés and to begin the very complicated and lengthy process of completing the Gates Millennium Scholarship application. The Gates Scholarship is an important opportunity for Native students on Pine Ridge, other Reservations and Native urban areas to have full access to higher education. This scholarship is open to other minority students as well. Working with school counselors faculty, mentors will encourage and accompany their protégés through this application process.

Requirements:
Staff employees who attend the immersion are required to use vacation days if they wish to be paid for those days away. Staff employees also may take unpaid leave to attend this program. Faculty may use their break period to attend the immersion. We realize this is yet another request for generosity and both appreciate those who are able to do this and also understand that family and other obligations might prevent others from attending. There is no charge for this event and all meals are paid. Time requirements are the one Red Cloud visit evening (to be announced) and the immersion at the beginning of Fall Break.

Costs:

Travel, room, and board are all covered during the trip.

Schedule:
September 17, 2012 (Monday)

Red Cloud Gates applicants visit Creighton University. Mentors meet with their Red Cloud protégés for a pre-dinner working session (3:30 PM to 4:30 PM) Creighton Hall 426 (The Social Science Data Lab), dinner at Ignatius House, and a post dinner work session that same evening at 4:30 PM and we will work with our mentees until about 8:30 PM. Jessica Swisher will do a Gates training from 3:30 to 4:00 PM for the staff and faculty. Our protégés will join us at 4:00 PM for another half hour of training. .

October 14-17, 2012 (Sunday-Wednesday- events are tentative)

Travel to Pine Ridge to work directly with your protégés and in turn to learn about the history and culture of the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation.

October 14, Sunday
8:00 am (Central Time) Depart Deglman Circle, Creighton University
9:45 am Visit the Betty Strong Encounter Center -Sioux City IA - breakfast

12:30 pm Lunch at the Yankton Dakota Casino

1:00 pm Visit Lake Francis Case - Fort Randall Chapel and Cemetery- Group Photo
5:30 pm (Mountain Time) Dine at Big Bat's Filling Station , Pine Ridge SD with Stella Iron Cloud
6:30 pm Arrival at Red Cloud/Holy Rosary Mission
7:00 pm Greetings by Jesuit and Red Cloud High School representatives

October 15, Monday
7:30 am Breakfast in Dining Room, Serena Hall – Lower Elementary Students present
8:00 am - Meet in High School Commons (IF Monday is our work day with students - we can switch M and T)

8:30 am - 10:00 pm Work begins with Red Cloud High School protégés: High School Computer Labs

10:00 am - 10:15 am Break

10:15 am - 12:00 pm Work continues with Red Cloud High School protégés High School Computer
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm Lunch - Serenna Hall
12:30 pm - 1:45 pm Work continues with Red Cloud High School Protégés in the High School Computer Lab
1:45 pm - 2:00 pm Break
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Work continues with Red Cloud High School Protégés in the High School Computer Lab
6:00 pm Dinner Red Cloud High School counselors, Gates scholarship applicants and parents/guardians

October 16, Tuesday
7:30 am Breakfast in Dining Room, Serena Hall

8:30 am - 9:45 am Tour of Mission Church, Red Cloud Schools and Heritage Center (Tina Merdanian)

10:00 am Tour of Reservation: Pine Ridge, IHS Hospital driveby, Wounded Knee, KILI Radio, Porcupine, Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School For Lunch.

12:00am Lunch at Our Lady of Lourdes

2:30 pm Return to Holy Rosary
4:00 pm Local activity if possible
6:00 pm Dinner with the Jesuit Community

6:30 pm Lakota Language Seminar or other activity if possible

October 17, Wednesday
7:00 am (Mountain Time) Departure of the Creighton University team
10:00 am (Central Time) Tour St. Francis Mission,Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum and Rosebud Reservation
12:00 am (Central Time) Lunch at St. Francis Mission

8:00 pm Arrive Deglman Circle, Creighton University

October 18, 2011-- December 4, 2012
Keep in touch with your protégés, help them with their essays if asked, and encourage them to complete the applications. The applications are due no later than 11:59 pm (EST), Monday, January 11, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST . Note that December 4, 2012 is the Creighton deadline for completing mentoring of the Gates application. After that if possible please continue to encourage your protégés.

Goals of Immersion - Mentorship Program :

       Familiarize faculty and staff with the cultural context of many of Creighton’s Native students

·       Provide an opportunity for inter-cultural dialogue and learning

·       Contribute to the strength of the Lakota community by mentoring some of their students applying to college and for the Gates Scholarship

2009 Mentors and Protégés in front of Red Cloud High School

PARTICIPANT RECOMMENDATIONS
If you would like to consult someone who participated in the 2011 program feel free to contact any of the following:

Haily Bieber (HJB96141@creighton.edu)
Raymond Bucko, S.J. (bucko@creighton.edu)
Cari Cloyed (caw03050@creighton.edu)
JessicaDaugherty (jesskadaugherty@creighton.edu)
Lora Durako (Durako@creighton.edu)
Mary McMahon (mcmahon@creighton.edu)

If you would like to consult someone who participated in the 2010 program feel free to contact any of the following:

James T Ault (jt3@creighton.edu)
Raymond Bucko, S.J. (bucko@creighton.edu)
Wendy Duerfeldt Schutte (wschutte@creighton.edu)

Michele Faulkner (map26810@creighton.edu)
Tracy Gady (tracygady@creighton.edu)
Debi Kibbee (dkibbee@creighton.edu)
Brian McCoy (bmccoy@pacific.net.au)
Rudi Mitchel (RudiMitchell@creighton.edu)
Jan Schnack (jschnack@creighton.edu)
Michelle White (mmw96060@creighton.edu)

If you would like to consult someone who participated in the 2009 program feel free to contact any of the following:

James T Ault (jt3@creighton.edu)

Raymond Bucko, S.J. (bucko@creighton.edu)
Ileen Beckman (ileenbeckman@creighton.edu)
Sandy Cihal (scihal@creighton.edu)
Ashley Hall (H.Hall@creighton.edu)
Rhonda Kodad (rhondakodad@creighton.edu)
Mary Kuhlman (mhk55367@creighton.edu)
Pat Malone (pmalone@jesuitswisprov.org)
Jenny Tilleman (jennifertilleman@creighton.edu)

If you would like to consult someone who participated in the 2008 program feel free to contact any of the following:

Tracy Bushman (TracyBushman@creighton.edu)
James Dorsey (jamesdorsey@creighton.edu)
Joe Ecklund (JosephEcklund@creighton.edu)
Kelly Gould (KellyGould@creighton.edu)
Rose Hill (RoseHill@creighton.edu)
Tom McShane, S.J. (ThomasMcShane@creighton.edu)
Peggy Smith (PeggySmith@creighton.edu)
Jenny Tilleman (jennifertilleman@creighton.edu)

If you would like to consult someone who participated in the 2007 program feel free to contact any of the following:

If you would like to consult someone who participated in the 2006 program feel free to contact any of the following:
James T Ault (jt3@creighton.edu)
Ray Bucko, S.J. (bucko@creighton.edu)
Tami Buffalohead-McGill (tamib@creighton.edu)
Sandi Cihal (sac85152@creighton.edu)
Lori Hatcher (lhatcher@pathology.creighton.edu)
Rose Hill (rmhill@creighton.edu)
Kathleen Rettig (rettig@creighton.edu)
Joleen Richwine (jgr73593@creighton.edu)
Jon Schrage (schragej@gmail.com)
Katie Thomas (aikaterinathomas@hotmail.com)
Omar Valentine (nvalentine@creighton.edu
Carol Zuegner (mcz78332@creighton.edu)

If you would like to consult someone who participated in the 2005 program feel free to contact any of the following:

James Ault (jt3@creighton.edu)
Ray Bucko, S.J. (bucko@creighton.edu)

Tami Buffalohead-McGill (tamib@creighton.edu)

Jerry Clark (jclark@creighton.edu)
Rick McAuliffe(rjm02954@creighton.edu)
Carol McCabe (cmccabe@creighton.edu)
Gary Michels (gmchls@creighton.edu)
Michelle Milard (mlm90831@creighton.edu)
Michele Starzyk (mks00575@creighton.edu)
Mary Helen Stefaniak (mhs@creighton.edu)
N Omar Valentine (nvalentine@creighton.edu)

If you would like to consult someone who participated in the 2004 program feel free to contact any of the following:

Kristina DeNeve (kdeneve@creighton.edu)

Tracy Leavelle (tracy.leavelle@creighton.edu)

Tom Purcell (tpurcell@creighton.edu)

Rick Witmer(witmer@creighton.edu)

Amy Treonis (atreonis@creighton.edu)

John Thein (jthein@creighton.edu)

Ray Bucko, S.J. (bucko@creighton.edu)

Tami Buffalohead-McGill (tamib@creighton.edu)

Gary Michels (gmchls@creighton.edu)

Marlene Wilken (mwi20590@creighton.edu)

2011 Immersion Team at the Betty Strong Encounter Center, Sioux City Iowa

2010 Immersion Team at the Betty Strong Encounter Center, Sioux City Iowa

2009 Faulty Staff immersion group at the new Red Cloud High School Commons

2008 Staff Faculty immersion group ready for an early departure from Creighton.

2007 Participants in the Band lands and our Guide Lyn-- Warmer than 2006!

2006 Participants in front of Holy Rosary Church -- Go Snow!

 

2004 Participants before our early morning departure from Creighton!