Humboldt State University to Hold its 45th Annual American Indian College Motivation Day on November 7

Press release from Humboldt State University:

Over 400 high school students from throughout Northern California will come together for American Indian College Motivation Day (AICMD) at Humboldt State University on Thursday, Nov. 7. The event is a collaboration between the Council of American Indian Faculty and Staff, student leaders, the Office of Admissions, and others.
HSU is celebrating the 45th annual event with a variety of workshops, lectures, campus tours, and special presentations aimed at increasing the representation and success in higher education for Indigenous People. Overall, 30 different tribal affiliations will be represented.

The success and longevity of AICMD–an event held at only select college campuses across the nation–can be attributed to the commitment of several key organizers and leaders in the Indigenous community.

The event begins with an opening speech by Cheryl Seidner (Wiyot), the Cultural Liaison for the Wiyot Tribe and a staff member at HSU’s Education Opportunity Program (EOP) for nearly 30 years. A respected speaker and scholar on Wiyot culture and history, Seidner has been granted an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from HSU for her passionate work on behalf of Indigenous communities.

Adrienne Colegrove-Raymond (Hupa) is the Coordinator of the Indian Tribal & Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP) and another key organizer of AICMD. ITEPP’s mission is to promote academic success and self-efficacy for Native American Indian students at HSU. Established in 1969 as the “Indian Teacher Education Project,” ITEPP is celebrating its 50th year of supporting Indigenous students at HSU. Today, ITEPP graduates are employed throughout the nation serving tribal communities in a multitude of capacities.

This year’s AICMD keynote speaker is Jessa Calderon, a singer/poet/artivist/rapper. Of mostly Tongva, Chumash and Mexica descent, Calderon widely participates in her tribal communities. The artwork she creates is mostly derived from personal experience, and she hopes to reach out and heal as many people as she can through her lyrics.

The event also includes a college fair where students will be exposed to programs like HSU’s Indian Natural Resources, Science and Engineering Program (INRSEP), as well as representatives from HSU’s three colleges — the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, the College of Natural Resources & Sciences, and the College of Professional Studies — and other campus departments, community organizations and counselors from colleges and universities in California and Oregon.

 

For more information, contact Molly Pucillo at [email protected] or 707.826.5481.