2009-04-10: MC to Host Native American Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 10, 2009

MENDOCINO COLLEGE, 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah, CA 95482

Contact: Chris Snyder, Media Assistant
T: 707-468-3098 or 707-489-5699, Fax: 707-467-1023
Email: csnyder@mendocino.edu

File: – Native American Motivation Day
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Mendocino College to Host Native American Event

Ukiah, CA- Mendocino College is hosting its 23rd Native American Motivation Day event on Friday April 24.
The event will run from 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and will start at the Center for the Visual and Performing Arts Building at Mendocino College. The theme of the event is “Four directions to education, culture, family, learning and health” and the event is sponsored by the Mendocino College Foundation.
   Lake and Mendocino County 7-12 graders will participate at the event. Last year’s event brought in around 168 local students.
   The event will host workshops pertaining to learning, culture, health, leadership and family.
   Students will also be able to meet with representatives from the University of California-Berkley, California State University-Sacramento, University of California-Davis, University of California-Santa Cruz and Humboldt State University.
   The Motivation Day will also feature a variety of speakers and Pomo dancers during lunch.
Lisa N. Ripken (Ojibwe) of Blaine, MN will be the keynote speaker. She is a professional development trainer and speaker.   In her professional career she has spoken to over two thousand professional development workshops ranging from corporate boardrooms to high schools.
Using her life story, Lisa weaves a message that with perseverance, fearlessness, and focus you can achieve your dreams despite no matter the odds.
Ripken volunteers as an Executive Council Member for Honoring Women Worldwide and serves as the Chair of the Women’s Hall of Honor Committee, which guides the vision and goal to create a virtual Hall of Honor representing women’s leadership globally.
The Mendocino College American Indian Alliance will follow up by hosting a pow-wow on the Mendocino College track on Saturday April 25 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. The Indian Alliance is searching for sponsors to assist with the pow-wow.
All dancers and drummers are welcome to attend. For more information on obtaining a booth at the event, please contact Monica Whipple at (707) 513-6380.
   For further information about the event, contact Mendocino College Counseling Assistant Darletta Fulwider at (707) 468-3048 or visit www.mendocino.edu.

Native American Motivation Day Schedule
8:00-8:20 a.m.   Breakfast, check-in, receive shirts
           (Center Theater lobby)

8:20-8:30 a.m.   Prayer, Cynthia Daniels
President’s welcome, Kathy Lehner
           Program overview

8:30-9:00 a.m.   Motivational speaker- Lisa Ripken
           (Center Theater)

9:00-9:10 a.m.   Break

9:10-9:40 a.m.   Learning Workshop
           Student Panel, PowerPoint
           (Center Theater)

9:40-9:50 a.m.    Break

9:50-10:20 a.m.   Health Workshop, Joe Salinas
           (Center Theater)

10:20-10:30 a.m.   Break

10:30-11:00 a.m.   7th-10th: Family, Amber Gardner/Raquel Figueroa
           8th-11th: Culture, Sheeyay Duncan
           9th-12th: Leadership, Lisa Ripken

11:00-11:10 a.m.   Break

11:10-11:40 a.m.   7th-10th: Culture, Sheeyay Duncan
           8th-11th: Leadership, Lisa Ripken
   9th-12th: Family, Amber Gardner/Raquel Figueroa

11:40-11:50 a.m.   Break

11:50-12:20 p.m.   7th-10th: Leadership, Lisa Ripken
   8th-11th: Family, Amber Gardner/Raquel Figueroa
           9th-12th: Culture, Sheeyay Duncan

12:20-1:30 p.m.   College Reps /Pomo Dancers/Lunch

1:30 p.m.       Program Adjourn

Pow-Wow Schedule (Saturday April 25)
10:00 am   Dancer Registration Opens
Welcome
Introduction of Head Staff
11:00 am   Gourd Dancing
12:00 pm   Grand Entry
Intertribals
1st Round of Dance Competition
Tiny tots (0-6 years)
Dance Registration Closes
Youth Girls and Boys Categories (7-17 years)
Women’s Categories (18-54 years)
   Traditional, Jungle, and Fancy
Mens’s Categories (18-54 years)
   Traditional, Grass, and Fancy
Intertribals
5:00 pm   Aztec Dancers
5:30 pm   California Traditional Dancers
6:00 pm   Grand Entry
       Introduction of Head Staff
       Intertribals
       2nd Round of Dance Competition
       Intertribals and Social Dances
       Announcement of Winners
       Closing Songs & Dance Out