EAGLE BUTTE, SD (December 10, 2012) — On Saturday, December 1, the Cheyenne River Youth Project® in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, hosted a special graduation ceremony for its fall Main University program. The 4 p.m. ceremony took place in the activity room at The Main Youth Center, and the young graduates were encouraged to bring their families.
Main University is one of the CRYP’s most popular and enduring programs. Recipient of a “Champion for Children” award from the South Dakota Coalition for Children, Main University is designed for 4- to 12-year-olds who attend CRYP’s “The Main” youth center. Former long-term volunteer Tracie Farrell founded the program in 2002.
CRYP staff and volunteers worked hard to make sure that the Main University graduation provided the same experience as a formal higher-education experience. Each graduate received a cap and corsage, as well as a diploma, and CRYP Youth Programs Director Megan Guiliano played “Pomp & Circumstance” on her violin.
After the ceremony, graduates and family members listened to a presentation by keynote speaker Wayne Ducheneaux II, administrative officer for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
“He talked to our graduates about always taking advantage of educational opportunities,” said Tammy Eagle Hunter, CRYP’s wellness coordinator. “The message was simple, but strong. Never stop learning.”
Afterward, at 6 p.m., graduates, parents and extended family members sat down to enjoy a home-cooked supper of spaghetti and salad.
Thirteen youngsters graduated from this fall’s Main University program: Valedictorian Juliani Gonzalez, salutatorian Gary Bad Warrior III, and fellow participants Gavin Dubray, Justelle Dupris, Cam’ron Eagle Staff, Zianne Edwards, Jayden Hollow Horn, Miles Livermort, Ezekial Marshall, Tracey Menard, Emily Miner, Deseree Sand and Rhaiyan Tomko.
To graduate, all participants had to attend a minimum of eight classes during the fall semester, which ran from October 1 to November 30. And they had several exciting subjects from which to choose, including The Art of Imagination, Cooking & Nutrition 101, Backpacking Through Europe, Mythology, Acting, Zumba, Beyond Your Backdoor and Lakota Culture.
In the Art of Imagination, taught by long-term volunteer Diana Ewert-Altenhain, the children read, drew, participated in guided imagery, created a “Board of Wishes” and produced their own book, “Artemis Fowl.”
“The kids were psyched whenever they got to work with paint, and they responded really well to the guided-imagery experiment, which concerned finding a safe place inside yourself,” Ewert-Altenhain said.
Fellow long-term volunteer Aeri Alexander taught Cooking & Nutrition 101, during which the kids practiced making such culinary delights as pumpkin muffins and tacos. They also learned about the USDA food pyramid and maintaining a balanced diet.
“One day, we focused on fruits for healthy breakfast ideas, and the kids made their own breakfast yogurt parfaits by layering yogurt, strawberries and granola,” Alexander recalled. “When everyone was eating, one girl shouted, ‘This is so good! We got to make dessert today!’”
Danish long-term volunteer Johs Rasmussen tackled Backpacking Through Europe, giving the Main University students a chance to “visit” other countries.
“When we ‘visited’ Denmark, the kids constructed buildings with Legos, played musical chairs with Danish music and dressed up as Danish hipsters,” Rasmussen said. “They put on my scarves, hats and glasses, and I took pictures of them, so they could see themselves in a different context.”
CRYP Youth Programs Assistant Anthony Potter taught Mythology, exposing the children to stories and legends that have endured for centuries.
“When I would read to them, I could see they were really mesmerized by the heroes and monsters,” Potter said. “I wanted them to learn, through the stories, that they can achieve their goals even if the odds seem stacked against them.”
In Acting, taught by long-term volunteer Alexandra Kane, children learned the art of improvisation through games designed for all age groups. In the process, they gained self-confidence, improved their listening skills, learned to be good audience members, helped each other and treated each other with more respect.
“I was very impressed with how quickly the children learned the games and utilized their imaginations to the fullest,” Kane reported. “I hope that this class gave them the skills they’ll need to speak in front of groups and share their thoughts without judgment. I’m so proud of what they’ve accomplished.”
Long-term volunteer Elizabeth “Lizzy” Carr taught Zumba in the Cokata Wiconi teen center’s dance studio. In each class, Carr would choose a new song and teach the children a dance to accompany the song. In the process, the kids learned favorites such as the cha-cha, the slide and salsa; they also learned appropriate stretching and warm-up techniques.
Another long-term volunteer, Jackson Hickey, taught participants about different ecosystems, biomes and the food chain in the class titled Beyond Your Backyard.
“I’ve often been surprised by the level of interest and prior knowledge shown by many of the kids,” Hickey commented. “On one occasion, I even was corrected by a student on my classification of a Venus Flytrap. I was then taught by the student about the plant’s diet and trapping techniques!”
Finally, the children got to learn about Lakota traditions, heritage, food and language in Tammy Eagle Hunter’s Lakota Culture class. They made dream catchers, read Paul Goble’s books, completed crossword and word-search puzzles, enjoyed wojapi and even participated in a Lakota Language Bowl.
“In each class, we picked 10 words, learned them and, at the end of class, held a Quiz Show about the words and their meanings,” Eagle Hunter explained. “Then we did the Bowl at the end of the semester.
“We’re thrilled with our kids’ performance and progress this semester,” she continued. “Main University has taught them that they can take an active role in their education, from choosing classes based on their interests and aspirations to interacting with instructors, working with classmates and engaging with new subject matter. These will prove to be valuable skills as our kids move toward high school and, hopefully, post-secondary education.”
To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project® and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit www.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, visit the youth project’s Facebook “Cause” page. All Cause members will receive regular updates through Facebook.
The Cheyenne River Youth Project®, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.