United Tribes Technical College kicks off the new academic year with community and celebration

School offers resources, prizes and amusement park fun as part of back-to-school event

The aroma of burgers and hot dogs and the buzz of excited returning students drifted from James Henry Gymnasium during United Tribes Technical College’s Kickoff to Welcome Week on Monday.

Despite the rain moving the celebration indoors, more than a hundred students enjoyed festivities by eating the food, listening to welcome speeches and an opening prayer, connecting with student organizations and trying their luck at the raffle, which featured a range of prizes including a TV. In addition to the kickoff event, students are invited to participate in a bowling night, volleyball tournament, hand games and grocery bingo each night for the rest of the week. 

During opening remarks, school staff thanked the students for their dedication to education and encouraged them to start the year strong. “You bring your 50 percent, we’ll bring our 50 percent, and together we’re going to have that 100 percent success,” UTTC President Leander “Russ” McDonald said in his welcome speech. 

Around 580 students are currently enrolled at the school. However, students can still register for the fall semester this week and adjust their schedules. McDonald said the student population has been increasing each year. Pre-pandemic, UTTC had about 425 students. In addition, the age demographics are changing. 

“They’re coming straight from high school to go to school with us, rather than the older-than-average students who have children,” he said. “Those demographics are important for us because that means we need more dorms. So we’re watching those numbers, and we’re using that data to help us make those decisions on how we’re going to move forward.”

Classmate interaction is essential to student success. Over the years, McDonald said he’s noticed that students who interact sooner within an academic environment are more likely to stay in college.

“Events like this help them to socialize, to meet people and maybe those they’re sharing a dorm room with,” McDonald said. “These events are important for them to connect with these faces, to see where those resources are available to them as students once they’re here.”

Samantha Dreaming Bear, vice president of the UTTC Student Government Association, was one of the ambassadors during the event. Throughout the gathering, she helped incoming students learn about the school’s resources and encouraged them to get involved. “Come here and find out what is your purpose, what you love to do,” she said.

The Oglala Sioux citizen chose United Tribes to further her education and open a foster home and a homeless shelter. Before Dreaming Bear returned to school, she tried to get a loan to begin her nonprofit at her Pine Ridge, South Dakota home. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get approval from the bank. 

“I tried to do that back in 2021 and the bank that I was going through actually told me that they wouldn’t be behind somebody without that education,” she said. “I understood and knew that I had to further myself, so I came to school to get my business degree and help my community.”

At the time, her sister was an auto mechanics student at UTTC, which is what put the college on the radar for Dreaming Bear. Since then, she’s joined campus activities and has enjoyed being a part of the school’s community. “We are very welcoming, and a lot of nations gather here,” she said.

Toward the latter part of the event, students toured the campus, met their faculty advisor, obtained their parking permits, and received their ID badges. A shuttle picked them up from the school and took them to the Sertoma Amusement Park for an evening of fun. 

Despite the rainy weather, Dreaming Bear called the back-to-school celebration a success. She enjoyed meeting this year’s incoming and returning students. 

“The students seemed like they enjoyed it,” she said. “We did have some rain there but I’m glad we all came inside and got to gather together, pray together, eat together.”

Dateline:

BISMARCK, N.D.