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OCTOBER 15, 2017
Honors in Education 2016-17
The 2016-17 academic year was very
successful in regards to providing ed-
ucation-related services to our Tribal
members both here in Grand Ronde and
abroad.
In working with the Oregon Depart-
ment of Education and Willamina Ele-
mentary School, we were able to lessen
chronic absenteeism. We assisted record
numbers of post-secondary students
complete programs. Early Childhood
Education staff worked hard to become
a Preschool romise provider and subse-
quently applied to an Early Head Start
Leslie Riggs
expansion grant and won, allowing us to
provide services to another 28 families.
The Tribal Library continued to provide an excellent and much-needed
service to our community.
Our Chinuk Wawa Language Program continues to deliver an excellent
language program to the families who access it and also to the local high
school students, employees and folks at Lane Community College. The
Youth Education Program continues its mission to enrich the lives of our
Tribal youth and to assist them in performing better in school, making
sure they are getting the education that is their right. All of this is assisted
by the Family Services Coordinators, who continue to work so well with
our families in need.
I would be remiss to not mention our support and administrative staff.
They are the hubs, the ones who make sure we are all running smoothly,
like one big, well-oiled machine.
Overall, suffice it to say, the Education Department, as a whole, is doing
great, looking to the future needs of our membership and finding ways
to improve. I am very proud of the work we do and of the people who do
that work. Once again, I am humbled by being given the opportunity to
do such important work with these wonderful people. The following pages
will assist in telling our story in a much more vibrant way than I ever
could. I hope you enjoy them.
hayu masi (many thanks)
Leslie Riggs
Education Department manager
Chinuk Language Program
The Chinuk Language Program offers educational programming and
classes taught in our language of chinuk wawa. The programs offered are
the Lilu Preschool Class, K-3 Chinuk Elementary half-day program and
the high school and adult classes. These programs serve more than 50
students of various age groups each year to strengthen the use of chinuk
wawa in and out of the classroom setting.
Lilu Preschool Classroom: The Lilu chinuk classroom is for 3- to
5-year-old students with parents and families who have an investment
in continuing and strengthening our language. The classroom offers an
opportunity for students to be taught in a culturally rich environment and
spend their day immersed in the language.
K-3 Chinuk Language Program: The kindergarten through third-
grade Chinuk Language Program is offered as half-day immersion for stu-
dents who attend Willamina Elementary School. Students receive literacy
instruction through the Chinuk Language Program in the morning and
then attend Willamina Elementary School in the afternoon to receive the
rest of their academic blocks. The curriculum used in the chinuk language
classroom offers children and families cultural curriculum that strives to
meet the common core standards required by the state.
High School Chinuk Class: Chinuk wawa is offered through the Willa-
mina School District as one of two language classes offered for students to
graduate with an Honors diploma. In addition to filling graduation require-
ments, students who take the chinuk language class also have the opportunity
to earn up to 24 credits for college through Lane Community College.
Adult Classes: Adult classes are offered with Kathy Cole for employ-
ees and parents who wish to get an introduction to the language. These
classes cover basic language use and are currently being held from noon
to 1 p.m. in the Youth Education building.
The chinuk language staff also provides various activities throughout
the year for the community to participate in.
These activities include:
• Chinuk participation in the preschool home-based program;
• Weekly K-5 Chinuk Club;
• Chinuk literacy nights;
• Stick game night;
• Celebratory potlucks;
• Chinuk Family Language Retreat.
The following is a list of students who successfully completed their final
years in one of our chinuk language programs.
Lilu students: Hudson Hubbell, Riley Freeman, Desirae Martin, Eva
Juardo, Tayi Knight and Aubrey Campbell.
K-3 Chinuk students: Sophia Ortiz. High School Chinuk Language stu-
dents: Bethany Berry, Jordan Reyes and Colton Keightley.
H onors
in E ducation
S moke
S ignals
Full-time College Program
The Full-time College Program pro-
vides funding for members of the Con-
federated Tribes of Grand Ronde who
are attending college on a full-time
basis in pursuit of a vocational degree or
certificate, associate, bachelor’s or grad-
uate degree from a nonprofit regionally
accredited college or university. There
are no residency requirements for this
program, so Tribal members across the
country can access the program.
Tribal Council has generously sup-
Bryan Langley
ported the higher education programs
over the years. Our program maximum
funding limit for a community college is $2,400 per term and $3,600
per semester and for students attending a university the funding
limits are $4,000 per term or $6,000 per semester.
To be eligible for funding students must have completed high school
or have completed a GED, apply for federal financial aid by completing
the FASFA, been accepted for admission into an approved accredited
institution, apply for at least one scholarship and be an enrolled Grand
Ronde Tribal member. Applications must be submitted at least 30 days
prior to the beginning of the term/semester that they want to attend.
Students are required to meet a minimum academic standard of
earning a 2.0 GPA, and maintain full-time status per term/semester.
If students meet the academic standard they are eligible to receive
the funding each year up to a maximum of 15 terms or 10 semesters.
Tribal funding is not intended to cover all cost for attending college.
Members are encouraged to apply for other scholarship opportuni-
ties. Members can contact Mercedes Reeves, our academic adviser,
for more information on scholarship
opportunities.
Tribal members interested in attend-
ing on a full-time basis at a community
college should contact Joshua Clift at
503-879-1635 or Joshua.clift@gran-
dronde.org.
Those students interested in attend-
ing on a full-time basis at a college or
university level should contact Bryan
K. Langley at 503-879-2276 or bryan.
langley@grandronde.org for more infor-
mation or to obtain an application.
Joshua Clift
Every year we celebrate the accom-
plishments of our Grand Ronde Tribal members who have completed
their college degree and are ready to enter the workforce or move on
to an advanced degree. This year was no different as we celebrated
the accomplishments of 45 Tribal members who graduated and
earned certificate through graduate degrees. Degrees earned ranged
from business to accounting to social work to the arts. The mission
of Education Program is simple: get educated and that is just what
our members are doing.
Noncredit Program
The purpose of the Noncredit Program is to assist enrolled mem-
bers of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in obtaining funding
for courses that do not provide college credit hours. The Noncredit
Program may assist with the funding needs for enrollment, tuition
and required equipment and supplies necessary for the completion
of the course.
Applicants are eligible for up to $500 per academic term.
Summer term: July 1-Sept. 30
Fall term: Oct. 1-Dec. 31
Winter term: Jan. 1-March 31
Spring term: April 1-June 30
Applicants must submit a completed Noncredit Program application
and accompanying course verifications (a copy of the registration or
a billing invoice that clearly shows course cost and billing informa-
tion) to the Tribal Education Department at least 10 days before the
registration deadline, or the beginning of the course if no registration
deadline is given.
All educational institutions are subject to review by the Education
Department before approval of grant awards. Recipients must provide
verification of successful completion once the training is complete.
Please contact Joshua Clift, Noncredit Program coordinator, at 503-
879-1635 or e-mail joshua.clift@grandronde.org for more information
or to receive an application.
Fee assistance
Enrolled Tribal members can request assistance with test fees (i.e. GRE,
SAT, LSAT, ACT) and admissions application fees. Contact Higher Education
for more information at 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2275.