|
|
Newsletter Volume 3 |
Spring 1999 |
Diné College Celebrates 30th Anniversary and Graduates First Baccalaureate Students
Dan McLaughlin
Diné Teacher Education Program
Diné College
|
|
|
Newsletter Volume 3 |
Spring 1999 |
Diné College, formerly Navajo Community College, celebrated its 30th anniversary and at the same time graduated its first baccalaureate students on Friday, May 15,1998 in commencement exercises which took place before an estimated audience of 2,000 family members and friends in the Pinon Pit at the Tsaile Campus. Eight students in the bi-lingual Diné Teacher Education Program received Bachelor of Arts degrees in elementary teacher education. They are the first such students to graduate with B.A. degrees in the history of the countrys oldest and largest tribally controlled college.
"Graduating these students is indeed an historic event for Diné College," said Diné College President Tommy H. Lewis. "The College has dreamed for some time about offering a four year program in teacher preparation. Now, after years of hard work, that dream has become a reality." President Lewis also reported, since the College opened its doors in 1968, it has enrolled more than 95,000 students and awarded more than 3,000 associate degrees. Last May 150 graduates received their associate degrees in two separate ceremonies held at the Tsaile and Shiprock campuses. The first cohort of Diné Teacher Education students became the first four-year baccalaureate graduating class of Diné College. The Diné Teacher Education Program (DTEP) is a collaborative partnership in K-8 teacher preparation involving Diné College and Arizona State University. The program began with a first cohort of students in Fall 1996. The eight graduates came from this first cohort of DTEP students.
The aim of the DTEP has been to prepare Navajos for K-8 teaching positions on the Navajo Nation by promoting Navajo philosophy, culture, history, language, and literacy. Graduates emerge from the program with Bachelors degrees in Elementary Education from Arizona State University, are eligible for Arizona K-8 teaching certificates, and need only two more courses to qualify for a Bilingual Teaching Endorsement in Arizona and New Mexico.
A luncheon reception followed the graduation ceremonies. The reception was attended by the eight graduates and several hundred relatives, college faculty and staff, and "friends of the DTEP" from all corners of the Navajo Nation. The invocation at the reception was provided by Nevy Jensen. Introductory remarks were provided by Anitta Pfeiffer, professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of New Mexico, member of the DTEP advisory group, and former director of the Diné Division of Education.
At the reception, each of the DTEP graduates delivered a speech of appreciation. Each of the graduates speeches was followed by a spokes-person from the graduates family, who also expressed appreciation to all who enabled the new teacher to succeed.
 Diné College's first cohort of Diné Teacher Education Program (DTEP) Baccalaureate graduates pose with DC and ASU faculty and staff during a reception held in their honor following their commencement exercises on Friday, May 15, 1998. Left to right are: Lydia Fasthorse Begay, Theresa Howard, Dorthy Bigman, Sara Hudleston, Carmen Wilson, Nick Appleton, Lucinda Wauneka, Virginia John, Gloria Brown, Mary Yazzie, Dorthy Donald, Ruth Retasket, Ben Barney, Terri Becenti and Daniel McLaughlin |
Daniel McLaughlin, DTEP program specialist, expressed thanks to Nick Appleton, Sarah Hudleston, Don Freeman, and Billie Enz, all faculty from the College of Education at Arizona State University, for the support that they provided to the students and faculty in the program. "We have the finest colleagues possible in our friends at ASU," McLaughlin said. They have taught courses with us, provided guidance at critical junctures in the program, nurtured the students growth, and shaped all aspects of what we have managed to accomplish at Diné College. We could not have done the program as well as we have without them."
At the end of the reception, Benjamin Barney, DTEP Director, urged the eight graduates to begin the serious work of implementing Navajo education in Navajo schools. "You must use all of your skills and knowledge wherever you may end up working to help develop effective Navajo and English bilingual programs. There will probably be resistance from many quarters. You must be smart, strong, dedicated, and courageous. Barney added, "We do not want you saying, It cannot be done. Find a way. Use your talents and abilities. Figure out what needs to happen, do it, and do it well."
Next Article
Previous Article
Volume 3 Contents
| ACEPT Home | Newsletter Home | Help | Search |
| Frames | No Frames |