Summa Cum Laude

Kiohud graduated Summa Cum Laude!

Kiohud is one of our student scholarship recipients who responded with a nice note. He updated us on his most recent accomplishment:

“I am happy to say that my undergraduate educational career is complete!

Your assistance in this journey of my life is greatly appreciated. I’m also excited to report that with your assistance I have consecutively made the Dean’s list for the past four semesters and graduated Summa Cum Laude from ASU’s College of Public Service and Community Solutions with a Bachelor of Science in Public Service and Public Policy with an emphasis in American Indian Studies.

I will also be making a return to complete the Master’s program in Public Administration in the Spring of 2017. I am employed full-time as a fire captain paramedic and I am married with a family of five. School at this stage in my life is challenging, but not impossible — especially with the help and support of my wife and organizations like yours.

I will use my degree to advance public policy back in my community and help my tribe with the challenges of sovereignty and policy making in the 21st century. Once again I am grateful for your assistance!”

Arizona State University is a large school, to put it mildly. There were 315 pages to the Spring 2016 Commencement program alone and it took nearly one week to complete all the commencement activities!

Each spring, the American Indian Education Fund (AIEF) program sends out email reminders to scholarship students to congratulate them on a year well done and to request their grades.

It’s always nice to receive a note from the student along with the grades. When the student is graduating, it is particularly celebratory. Looking back at Kiohud's original application, you can certainly see why he received the scholarship:

"I am seeking the AIEF scholarship to receive financial support. Although I have a great career, my expenses are exhausted to pay for my family's livelihood. I work deligently for my family and community by placing their needs before mine and would greatly appreciate any assistance that AIEF can provide. I feel that my education will lead me to great opportunities for all indigenous people and someone with my character would do well in a position to advocate for Indigenous rights."

We are proud of all these students are doing to better the lives of themselves, their families, and their communities. Sincere congratulations go out to Kiohud and all recent graduates!