Red Cloud Indian School Celebrates AmeriCorps's 20th Anniversary with South Dakota's Secretary of Tribal Relations, JR LaPlante

posted September 12, 2014

The South Dakota Commission for National and Community Service hosted a reception event at Red Cloud Indian School today to celebrate AmeriCorps’s 20th Anniversary and to honor JR LaPlante, one of twenty AmeriCorps alumni recipients nationwide who received the prestigious National Leadership Award.

LaPlante most recently served as South Dakota’s first Secretary of Tribal Relations and is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. He has been passionate about improving government and tribal relations all his life, serving both as an AmeriCorps Legal Fellow in 2009 and as Chief Justice for the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe.

Hosting 311 members over the last 14 years, Red Cloud Indian School is South Dakota’s largest AmeriCorps State program and was chosen by LaPlante for the site of his award ceremony. Red Cloud currently hosts 24 members as teachers and aides, counselors, librarians, After School Program prefects, mentors, coaches and more, providing much needed support to the nonprofit school through 39,991 of service to the school’s 600 students.

LaPlante addressed the attendees—including many young AmeriCorps members, students and recent graduates—providing advice and insight that he gained through his years of service.

“You can’t be afraid to take risks,” said LaPlante. “You can’t pin yourself in a corner. You need to open yourself up to possibilities. I never expected to become the first Secretary of Tribal Relations for the State of South Dakota, but I think I’m in this position now because I didn’t limit myself.”

 

 

During the September 12 event, Red Cloud’s President, Fr. George Winzenburg, SJ addressed present AmeriCorps members and alumni before tuning in to a live feed from Washington DC where President Obama and former President Clinton commemorated the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps from the White House. Concluding the event, Serve South Dakota Program Director, Leah Miller introduced JR LaPlante and presented him with his award.

Upon receiving his award, LaPlante addressed the attendees.

“I’m very humbled to be the recipient of this award,” said LaPlante. “It provides me with some more energy to keep going and to continue fulfilling the commitment to get things done that we accept when we become an AmeriCorps member. And, to continue the work I do as a public servant. Thank you.”

For more on Red Cloud’s AmeriCorps program, contact Margi Bettelyoun at 605-967-5888 or visit www.RedCloudSchool.org/volunteer

 

Watch this video to see what being a volunteer is all about! 

 

View More Photos From the Event

 

 

Photos and Content ©Red Cloud Indian School, 2014