Lyra Estes, Pawnee, Latta Middle School, “Measuring Catalase Enzyme Activity with a Sodium Alginate-Yeast Vehicle”AISES participated with a national network of partners in celebrating Indigenous members of the class of 2020. The May 1 event, hosted by Indigenous Education Inc., home of the Cobell Scholarship, marked the accomplishments of graduates from college, graduate school, vocational school, and high school.
The ceremony featured a two-hour video presentation of blessings, drum songs, guest speakers, a brief summary of each graduate, and more. Speakers included Sarah EchoHawk, AISES CEO; Dr. Henrietta Mann, charter member of the AISES Council of Elders, who offered the invocation; Dr. John Herrington, former NASA astronaut and former member of the AISES Board of Directors, who gave the keynote commencement address; and Dr. Twyla Baker, president of Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College and former chair of the AISES Board of Directors.
AISES has launched a new Full-Circle Mentorship program. Participants in the one-on-one yearlong initiative are college and professional members engaging in academic and career mentoring, with coordination from AISES staff.
AISES partnered with the Oklahoma State University Division of Institutional Diversity to celebrate the 32nd Annual National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair (NAISEF). Because the fair was held on April 4, in the midst of pandemicrelated challenges, the event was entirely virtual but full of persistence, enthusiasm, and proud award winners.
First Place and the AISES Advancing Agricultural Science Opportunities for Native Americans (AASONA) Award
➜ Lyra Estes, Pawnee, Latta Middle School, “Measuring Catalase Enzyme Activity with a Sodium Alginate-Yeast Vehicle”
Oklahoma Tribal Conservation Advisory Council Award
➜ Hayden Faddis, Cherokee, Westville Junior High, “Using the Power We Have … Listen Up!”
➜ Liam Puls,
Cherokee, Oklahoma School of Innovation and Experiential Learning, “The
L.I.F.E. Study: Linguistic Interpretation of Our Future Expressions”
Native Heritage Award
➜ Alesia Nez, Navajo, Navajo Preparatory School, “Establishing a Radon Region on the Navajo Nation’s Abandoned Uranium Mines”
➜ Keona Hosteen,
Navajo, Navajo Preparatory School, “Particulates and Toxic Gases: The
Hidden Harm in Wood Fires Used in Traditional Hogans and Their
Correlation with Asthma and Lung Cancer”
➜ Zoey Cameron, Bois Fort Ojibwa, and Morgan Bush, Northeast Range High School, “How Do Different Metallic Mordants Affect the Color of Natural Dyes?”
AASONA Award
➜ Alesia Nez, Navajo, Navajo Preparatory School, “Establishing a Radon Region on the Navajo Nation’s Abandoned Uranium Mines”
Third Place
➜ Keysha Kindle, Cherokee, Westville High School, “Sexual Dimorphism in Red Ear Sliders: What are You?? Male or Female?”
First Place (Tie)
➜ Alesia Nez, Navajo, Navajo Preparatory School, “Establishing a Radon Region on the Navajo Nation’s Abandoned Uranium Mines,” and Anna Grondolsky, Native Hawaiian, Kamehameha Kapalama, “Building an Efficient Reversible Fuel Cell Stack for Use as a Backup Power Source”
NAISEF is able to move into its 33rd year only with the determination of the students and their project sponsors and mentors, as well as with the generous contributions of our incredible volunteer judges and sponsors. Last, but certainly not least, AISES is extremely grateful for the confidence of our sponsors, who have sustained NAISEF funding throughout this challenging time.