Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

Indigenous Student Graduation Reception Honors Students at Its 15th Annual Event

Tuesday, May 29, 2018, By Kathleen Haley
Share
BIPOC Student Success Programs and ServicesCommencementStudents
group of students standing

Graduating Indigenous students at the 15th annual Indigenous Student Graduation Reception on May 5. Photos by Steve Sartori

The Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Native Student Program celebrated graduating Indigenous students during the 15th annual Indigenous Student Graduation Reception on May 5.

The University’s Indigenous students earned 17 bachelor’s degrees, four master’s degrees, one J.D. and one Ph.D. It was the second largest group of graduates for the Native Student Program.

All graduating Indigenous students were presented with coffee mugs with the Indigenous Students at Syracuse logo, a Syracuse University Alumni pin; a Tuscarora Woodworks pen; and a congratulatory note from the Ongwehonwe Alumni Association welcoming students to the association and inviting them to become official Haudenosaunee / Indigenous Alumni Representatives. Several of the Indigenous students also wore “Respect Indigenous Women” and “No More Stolen Indigenous Sisters” red shirts at the event and at Commencement to raise awareness of the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women.

members of a family standing

Emily Porter received a stipend from the Ongwehonwe Alumni Association for receiving the highest GPA of the undergraduate graduating class.

Emily Porter received a stipend from the Ongwehonwe Alumni Association for receiving the highest GPA of the undergraduate graduating class.

Each of the graduates received a stole handcrafted by Tammy Beauvais Designs of Kahnawake, Canada, specific to their degrees and indigenous identities. Undergraduates received a purple stole while graduates received a white stole.

Those attending the event also included Chancellor Kent Syverud, Faithkeeper Oren Lyons (the first Haudenosaunee graduate from Syracuse University in 1958) and Tadodaho Sid Hill.

Several students earned individual awards, recognition and scholarships over their academic careers with the University, including:

Undergraduates: 

Caleb Abrams, Seneca Nation, associate producer,  “Lake of Betrayal: The Story of the Kinzua Dam” film

Kasey Chopito, Zuni Pueblo Nation, American Indian Services Scholarship and Pueblo of Zuni Higher Education scholarship

Janet Flores, Guachichil Nation, Chichiemeca Confederacy, Mexico, social justice advocate and activist, 2017 Revolutionary Award from the Latina sorority at Syracuse University

Gabrielle Hill, Tonawanda Seneca Nation, Florence B. Potter Award

Ginger Jacobs, Onondaga Nation, Dean’s List three semesters

Alyana Jimerson, Allegany Seneca Nation, Dean’s List three semesters

Jocelynn Martin, Mohawk Nation, Dean’s List, Magna Cum Laude

Jaiden Mitchell, St. Regis Mohawk Nation, Dean’s List Scholar

Emily Porter, Six Nations Cayuga, Valedictorian, Community Engagement Award (Food Studies Senior Award), and Roseane do Socorro Goncalves Viana Human Rights Award (Undergraduate Paper)

Paige Priest, Seneca Nation, Dean’s List

Jade Rhoades, Tuscarora Nation, Udall Scholarship 2017, Critical Language Scholarship-Russian 2017 & 2018, George B. Cressey Award 2018, Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship

Graduates:

Michael Abrams, Onondaga Nation, Undergraduate Haudenosaunee Promise Scholar; M.A. and Certificate of Advanced Studies/Linguistics/Language Teaching/College of Arts and Sciences

three people standing

James K. Duah-Agyeman, director for the Office of Multicultural Affairs; graduate student Michael Abrams; Chancellor Kent Syverud

Michelle Shenandoah-Powless, Oneida Nation of New York, B.A. Cornell University 1999, Juris Doctor 2009, Master of Laws 2012 (LLM) in Taxation at NY Law School; M.S./Magazine, Newspaper and Online Journalism/S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

Lori Tarbell, Akwesasne Mohawk Nation, NYS Office of Mental Health and Schools of Social Work, and Deans’ Consortium Project for Evidence-based Practice in Mental Health Award; M.S.W./Social Work/Certificate of Advanced Studies/Trauma-Informed Practice/David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

Portia Skenandore-Wheelock, Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, J.D./Law/M.P.A./Public Administration/ Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Hayley Cavino, Ngati Whitikaupeka/Ngati Pukenga (Maori, New Zealand), He Kokonga Whare Postgraduate Fellowship (Independent Institute for Maori Research), and Ithaca College Diversity Pre-doctoral Fellowship, Ph.D./Sociology of Education/School of Education/Women’s and Gender Studies/College of Arts and Sciences

Trenna Hill, Mohawk Nation, M.S./Higher Postsecondary Education/School of Education/Certificate of Advanced Studies/Intercollegiate Advising/David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit www.syracuse.edu.

  • Author

Kathleen Haley

  • Recent
  • Calling All Alumni Entrepreneurs: Apply for ’CUSE50 Awards
    Tuesday, June 24, 2025, By John Boccacino
  • Swinging Into Summer: Syracuse International Jazz Fest Returns With Star Power, Student Talent and a Soulful Campus Finale
    Tuesday, June 24, 2025, By Kathleen Haley
  • Iran Escalation: Experts Available This Week
    Tuesday, June 24, 2025, By Vanessa Marquette
  • Retiring University Professor and Decorated Public Servant Sean O’Keefe G’78 Reflects on a Legacy of Service
    Tuesday, June 24, 2025, By John Boccacino
  • SCOTUS Win for Combat Veterans Backed by Syracuse Law Clinic
    Monday, June 23, 2025, By Vanessa Marquette

More In Campus & Community

Retiring University Professor and Decorated Public Servant Sean O’Keefe G’78 Reflects on a Legacy of Service

For most of his time as a public servant, Sean O’Keefe G’78 adhered to a few guiding principles: Step up when someone calls upon you to serve. Be open to anything. Challenge yourself. Those values helped O’Keefe navigate a career…

Jorge Morales ’26 Named a 2025 Beinecke Scholar

Jorge Morales ’26, a double major in history and anthropology in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs with a minor in English and textual studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been awarded the highly competitive…

Registration Open for Esports Campus Takeover Hosted by University and Gen.G

Syracuse University and global esports and gaming organization Gen.G have opened general registration at campustakeover.gg for its first Campus Takeover Sept. 20-21. The two-day conference will bring students and administrators to Syracuse to highlight career opportunities within the esports industry…

2 Whitman Students Earn Prestigious AWESOME Scholarship

For the first time in the 12-year history of the program, both nominees from the Whitman School of Management have been selected as recipients of the 2025 AWESOME Excellence in Education Scholarship, a prestigious honor awarded to top-performing undergraduate women…

Whitman’s Johan Wiklund Named a Top Scholar Globally for Business Research Publications

The Whitman School of Management’s Distinguished Professor Johan Wiklund was recently listed as one of the most prolific business and economic research scholars globally, according to “What We Know About the Science of Science in Business and Economics? Insights From…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.