In early 2018, Will Tsosie (History, ’69) and his wife were dining at the Pizza Hut in Farmington when he bumped into a fellow former graduate of FLC. After reminiscing funny memories of their days in the dorms, an idea hatched to organize a reunion for the Class of 1969. They enlisted the help of FLC Alumni Engagement, and, on August 4, 2018, 15 Native American alumni gathered in Durango for the inception of the Native American Alumni Chapter, officially recognized with a certificate signed by FLC President Tom Stritikus and Director of Alumni Engagement Krista Knott. Since that debut summer soiree, meetings have welcomed as many as 100 alumni spanning classes from the 1960s up to the Class of 2019. A leadership group, including a historian, was formed to organize the quarterly get-togethers.
One of the NAAC’s primary focuses is ensuring that Native history, including current tribal settings, is taught correctly — not only at FLC, but also in high schools and other colleges across the country. The flourishing chapter has also given away more than $2,000 in scholarships to support Native American students in finishing their college degrees.
According to Tsosie, many tribal communities are in poverty, a situation that is neglected when Native college graduates do not return to their tribal lands due to lack of employment. The NAAC hopes to diminish poverty rates on tribal lands by encouraging graduates to return to their reservations and put their educations and talents to use for the greater good of their communities.
The NAAC is actively enlisting new members. If interested, please contact Krista Knott at alumni@fortlewis.edu or Will Tsosie at will_tsosie@yahoo.com.
Former Fort Lewis College cyclist Savilia Blunk captured a pair of national titles at the USA Cycling Cross Country Mountain Bike National Championship.
Durango artist Maddie Sanders (Communication Design, '21) contributed to a collaborative art and science exhibit that will make the Colorado State Capitol home for the next five months. Sanders worked with CU Boulder scientists Nicole Brooks and Diane McKnight to create "Durango: Mining the Mineral Belt." Their work explores the relationship between acid mine and acid rock drainage in the Colorado Mineral Belt and the effect it has on natural waterways.
FLC cyclist Michaela Thompson won her gravel race debut alongside teammates Sarah Sturm (Art, ‘12) and Ellen Campbell (Biology, '20).
For more meaningful relationships and fuller lives, Charlie Rogers (Exercise Physiology, '22) is helping Durangoans create community through play and movement.
Installation artist Chris Erickson (Art, '94) is leading the city of Aspen's first-ever public art installation. The project is a temporary street mural, and community members are invited to help paint it from start to finish.
The Center for Indigenous Health held a graduation ceremony for seven Indigenous scholars receiving advanced degrees from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, including FLC alumna Natalie Joe (Cellular & Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, '16), who spoke to Native News Online about her achievement.