Red Cloud Alumnus Returns Through Dartmouth Fellowship

posted on July 10, 2013
by Autumn White Eyes

I graduated from Red Cloud Indian School in 2010 and have been studying Native American Studies and English at Dartmouth College. Now in my third year, I was recently given the opportunity to give back to the community I grew up in. This opportunity came through Dartmouth’s Tucker Foundation with a fellowship called Dartmouth Partners in Community Service. 

This fellowship provides funding for students to create their own community service internship. Sixty percent of this internship consists of direct service to the community, while forty percent is designated for gaining experience with non-profit organizations through clerical work.  

I decided that this would be a great opportunity to come back to Red Cloud Indian School. As both a school and a nonprofit organization, there were ample opportunities to serve the community through education initiatives and gain experience working in a nonprofit office setting. During the month of June, at the start of my fellowship, I worked as a teacher’s aid at Red Cloud’s summer school. Everyday was a surprise with new, fun experiences with the kids as they worked to improve grades and learn new things. 

With summer program now complete, I will spend the remainder of my fellowship working in Red Cloud’s Advancement Office to learn more about the internal workings of Red Cloud’s nonprofit arm, which works to raise millions of dollars to keep the school’s lights on and doors open. I will also be assisting the Community Relations Department with tours of the historic campus supporting Red Cloud’s community by educating visitors about the school.  

I knew I wanted to complete this community service fellowship at Red Cloud because I feel very close to the community here. My father is a teacher at Red Cloud’s High School and I grew up around so many of the other staff and teachers. This school has definitely held a place in my heart and I am so thankful for all that it has done for me over the years. 

Working with the summer school provided me with the experience of working with our youth, which is something I’d definitely like to continue doing in the future with my career.  I think this fellowship has provided me a wealth of experience that I will continue to draw from in my future endeavors. While I am not entirely sure what I will be doing after I graduate from Dartmouth but I know I will to continue to keep Red Cloud a part of my heart and a part of my community. 

 

Photo: All Rights Reserved ©Red Cloud Indian School