United Tribes Technical College is awarding its David M. Gipp Native American Leader Fellowship Award in Bismarck, North Dakota tonight.
The honor is bestowed on a student who not only excels academically, but who also displays strong dedication to their community.
Recipients of the Native American Leader Fellowship Award are nominated by instructors and department heads at United Tribes Technical College.
This year the award is being given to Teresa Hughes, an Arapaho tribal member from Wyoming.
Spokesperson Janet Thomas says besides a plague and stipend, Teresa will have the opportunity to travel with UTTC president David Gipp.
“President Gipp goes to different places and he likes to bring a student with him to experience some of these different environments,” says Janet Thomas. “Whether it’s testifying in Washington, D.C., or leadership conferences…he usually likes to include this student…the awardee. So they get to expand their knowledge.”
About 400 students are slated to graduate from United Tribes Technical College this week. Students representing more than 75 tribal nations have attended the college.