University of Minnesota Athletics
Athletics Hosts Native American Celebration, Nov. 20
11/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The University of Minnesota athletic department, in conjunction with the Office for Equity and Diversity, will host a Native American Heritage Month Celebration on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 11 a.m. at Williams Arena. Fifth and sixth graders from American Indian Magnet School and Roosevelt Elementary School from St. Paul, Minn., will meet with Men's Head Basketball Coach Tubby Smith at 12 pm. The event will be used to present awards to the runner-ups and winners of an essay contest about prominent men and women of Native American descent. Over 230 students are expected to attend.
The event will include lunch, tours of the Williams Arena, and a special lecture delivered by Tubby Smith and other guest speakers. An authentic Native American pow wow dance is also scheduled for the celebration.
On Monday, Nov. 17, essays about prominent Native Americans Marge Anderson, Gerald Vizenor, Steve Premo, and Winona LaDuke were collected and judged by University of Minnesota student-athletes and staff. From the large number of essays, two winners and two runner-ups were selected to be acknowledged during the Native American Heritage Month Celebration.
The winners of the essay contest will be presented with autographed posters of the men's and women's basketball team and gift certificates. Every student in attendance will receive a goodie bag from the University of Minnesota. Also, all fifth and sixth graders will be given two tickets to the 1 p.m. women's basketball game on Nov. 22 at Williams Arena against American where the essay contest winners will be recognized during the game.
The University of Minnesota athletic department's Director of Special Events, Linda Roberts, explained that the reason the University of Minnesota is putting on the event is to encourage fifth and sixth graders, no matter what the student's own background is, to learn about Native American history, culture, and heritage.
Written by CHAMPS/Life Skills Intern Jacob Kittilstad
