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On a cold January evening the members of the senior class and their parents gathered for the annual financial aid night at Red Cloud Indian School. The evening event began with a heartfelt “Congratulations to the Seniors” from Fr. Peter Klink, S.J., President of Red Cloud Indian School. He commended the students, “For all the hard work that brings you to this milestone-your senior year; for having the vision and believing enough in your gifts and yourself to come tonight-- for if you did not see a future you would not be concerned about securing the funding to pursue your dreams; I want to thank you for having the courage to dream despite all the forces that tell you to not dream.” Following presentations by financial aid experts, parents and students gathered in the computer lab to file the application on-line. In years past, students watched as parents filled out the long paper applications. This year, the parents told the information to the students who expertly navigated the on-line site and submitted the required information. Long-time high school guidance counselor, Lenny Clifford noted seeing the students taking the lead with the application process is a testament to their hope for a brighter future, “This is the high turn out and is 3 times higher than the national average for parent financial aid night.”
It takes dedicated hard work day in and day out by the Red Cloud high school teachers and counselors as they strive to assist the graduating seniors with their dreams. Much time is spent looking at college information, arranging college visits, and maintaining a timeline that has been perfected over the years. The Red Cloud High school counselors are a vital link as they help the students navigate various financial aid programs and gain access to a higher education. Every week they post a list of available scholarships. It was through the Counselor’s office that Red Cloud senior Season Frank applied for and was named as one of 107 Horatio Alger National Scholars. Season will receive a $20,000 college scholarship and an all expense paid trip to Washington, DC for the 2008 National Scholars Conference. "I am sur prised, and Concluding his remarks, Fr. Klink thanked the parents for supporting their children and their dreams. Later that evening he noted, “The voices of poverty and unemployment can discourage the students from believing in themselves or dreaming of a future. It is within that reality that the teachers and counselors strive daily to be a voice of empowerment, repeating each and every day in everything that they do, “Of course you can!” And Red Cloud students are getting the message!
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SUCCESS is the achievement of something desired and planned 
Parents and students left that evening with a sense of accomplishment. A mother of two seniors was gleaming with pride. Her son has already accepted at Creighton University in Omaha, NE and her daughter is leaning toward Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD. “I have two older children who have graduated from Red Cloud. They are pursuing their higher education and now these two will follow the same path to further their education. The counselors here at Red Cloud do an extraordinary job and really made a difference in their lives. Because of them an exceptional numbers of graduating high school seniors who enroll in college.” She added, “I am happy my kids have this opportunity!”
Many students face the challenges of extreme poverty. Living conditions can include little food, no heat or electricity. In spite of these obstacles, students travel across the remote Reservation to come to a place where their learning is taken seriously. In this remote area, one can travel through community after another-and never seeing a drug store, a department store, a theater, or even a restaurant. A grocery store can be miles from home and a medical visit can mean a trip of over 50 miles to a doctor or hospital. Financial aid takes on added meaning for the students of Red Cloud. It is in this context that student come to Financial Aid Night with hopes of being able to secure the necessary funding to pursue their dreams.
feel a sense of relief and thankfulness that I have a way to pay for college," said Season. "This is a big accomplishment. It seemed like a lot of work, but it paid off in the end." Although undecided as to which college to attend, Season knows that she would like to study nursing, and has already been accepted to South Dakota State University and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. "I give credit to Red Cloud teachers and staff. Through the years they have challenged me to maintain my GPA and encouraged me to pursue college." In addition, Seniors Chante Knight and Dylan Fills Pipe were named Horatio Alger Scholarship state recipients, both receiving a $5,000 scholarship.