University of Montana American Indian students recognized for outstanding academic achievements

By B.L. Azure

Gus Azure, Cedric Matt and Dez Pierre of the Flathead Nation were honored Friday at the University of Montana for high academic grades at the. They were among 50 top American Indian scholars at UM. (B.L. Azure photo)

MISSOULA - The University of Montana has long been the destination for American Indian students seeking a college education. The number of tribal people making the trek to Missoula began with a drop or two following World War II and then began to trickle in the 1950s. In the late-1960s and the 1970s the spigot opened wide as more and more American Indians sought the American Dream. Today the spigot is knocked off and the UM is gushing with American Indian students pursuing the great equalizer that is a college education.

Many of today's students are second and third generation students who are following in the footsteps of grandparents and parents, according to Dr. Patrick Weasel Head, director of the University of Montana American Indian Student Services program.

On Friday, a group of American Indian students with the highest grade point averages were recognized at the American Indian/Sloan Honors Reception at the University Center.

"We have more than 500 American Indian students who are enrolled here at the University of Montana. That number really blows me away. There have been times when there were only two or three American Indians who graduated from here on any given year. Those days are gone," Weasel Head said. He speculated that there are probably more than 500 enrolled at UM but they may have chosen to not identify themselves as American Indian. "I think the times have changed, obviously. I credit that to American Indians having more role models who are college graduates - they showed the way. Parents and family have also made a big difference. It really does help when there is a lot of support from home. A stable home environment truly does make all the difference in the world."

Dr. Gyda Swaney of the Flathead Nation and a professor at the University of Montana addressed the students and families at the American Indian/Sloan Honors Reception. (B.L. Azure photo)

Weasel Head said his program does a lot for students needing assistance to make the transition from high school or community college to UM or from an Indian reservation to a large population urban setting like Missoula.

"We provide an array of services for everyone all coming from a different set of circumstances and different tribal backgrounds," Weasel Head said. "But this is something different. We want to recognize the students who regardless of class level maintain a high grade point average."

Weasel Head said there were many UM American Indian students who retain high GPAs and that is good. "There are a lot of Indian students with 3.0 GPAs or higher but we wouldn't be able to feed them all," he said jokingly. "So we chose those at the very top with the highest GPAs."

Fifty of those American Indian students were honored at the recognition luncheon, reception and awards ceremony. Five of those recognized came from the Flathead Indian Reservation or surrounding area and were tribal members or descendents of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

They were Dez Pierre, daughter of Debra Dumontier and Michael Pierre of the Flathead Indian Reservation; Cedric Matt, son of Marlin and Rita Matt of Missoula; Gus Azure, son of Bernie and Kim Azure of Valley Creek; Marlee Ostheimer; and Jessi Cahoon. The latter two did not attend the reception.

Cedric Matt is a junior majoring in political science. He graduated from Missoula Sentinel High School and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He said his parents and family provided him with a good positive foundation that his Marine Corps experience reinforced. "I have a lot of good family support. They motivate me to reach the goals I set," he said. "The Marine Corps helped me change my habits and develop discipline needed to reach my goals."

Arlee High School graduate Dez Pierre who graduates this Saturday with a psychology degree credits her family including, grandparents Alfred "Cubby" and Glenda Dumontier, and uncle Dr. Tim Dumontier, an orthopedic doctor/surgeon, with her motivation to excel in academics and in life. She will begin work this summer with the Indian Health Service headquarters in Rockville, Maryland. She wants to pursue an administrative career with the IHS that may include seeking a master's degree.

Gus Azure, a 2007 Arlee High School graduate, is a freshman majoring in music education. He plans on teaching, composing and playing music upon graduation. Gus credits his parents for encouraging him to pursue his dream and his brother Mitchell Azure for teaching him how to play the guitar and read music. "I was always interested in playing music but I really didn't know that I could until my brother let me fool around on his guitar," he said. "I was in the fourth grade and by the end of that first day I could play music."

This is the second year of the American Indian/Sloan Honors Reception and judging by the numerous high GPA scholars Weasel Head mentioned it will not be the last.

It will however be the last for Weasel Head who is retiring in June after more than 35 years in the educational field.