June 23, 2009

SMSC Supports Education Programs for Youth

High School Graduation Events and Scholarships Funded

Prior Lake, MN - Out of a concern for the well-being of youth, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, a federally recognized Indian tribe located in Prior Lake, Minnesota, has donated a total of $22,050 for high school graduation events and scholarships.

Twelve local high schools received a total of $3,600 to fund alcohol and chemical-free graduation events. Additional funding went to out of state schools which serve Indian reservations. This year the SMSC helped sponsor senior class parties with donations to high schools in the local area including Prior Lake, Shakopee, Burnsville, Apple Valley Senior High, Chaska, Eastview (Apple Valley), Jordan, Kennedy (Bloomington), Monticello, New Prague, Richfield, and the School of Environmental Studies (Apple Valley). Each year the SMSC supports these parties at the request of event organizers.

The SMSC also helped sponsor graduation and prom activities totaling $4,950 at the Marty Indian School, Tiospaye Topa, and Crazy Horse School, all of which are in South Dakota. A donation was also made to the Cheyenne River-Red Scaffold Head Start program for graduation and to the Little Wound High School for a senior class trip. In addition, the SMSC helped sponsor the 23rd annual American Indian College Graduation Celebration that honors American Indians in the Twin Cities who are graduating from college. SMSC Chairman Stanley Crooks said, "There is nothing more important to the SMSC than the health and well-being of the nation's youth. We are very thankful for the opportunity to support youth in celebrating an important milestone in their lives." The SMSC donated an additional $13,500 to support six scholarship programs: Shakopee Dollars for Scholars, the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Scholarship (Scott County, Minnesota), Catching the Dream (Albuquerque, New Mexico), the Page Education Foundation (Minneapolis, Minnesota), South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (Rapid City, South Dakota), and the American Indian Graduate Center (Albuquerque, New Mexico).