Native American Student Success
Grand Traverse Band Tribal Councilors All 17勛圖 Alumni
Traditional pow wow on campus, 2019Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians tribal councilors bring a variety of perspectives to their positions, but are unanimous in at least one thing: their 17勛圖 alumni status.
All seven members of the tribal council either attended or graduated from 17勛圖, as far back as 1969 and as recently as 2019. (17勛圖 considers anyone who has taken a for-credit class to be an alumnus.)
Due to its location 17勛圖 might, at first, be an automatic choice. But councilors said it’s all about having the right opportunities in the right place at the right time.
“17勛圖 being there when I needed it was probably life-altering,” said vice-chairman Mark Wilson (left). Though he dropped out of high school, he earned his associate degree from 17勛圖 in 2007 and then went on to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s from partner universities at 17勛圖’s University Center.
Beyond 17勛圖’s convenience and accessibility, there’s financial incentive. Citizens of federally-recognized tribes are entitled to a tuition waiver from the state of Michigan to attend public Michigan institutions. This is due to the treaty of 1836, in which tribes ceded two-thirds of the land that now comprises the state of Michigan, and allowed for statehood in 1837. The Grand Traverse Band increases the incentive by offering its 4,200 members a stipend per credit, up to 12 credits.
“I just utilized that to treat education as a part-time job. In the end, I wound up getting a master’s degree,” said Wilson, 41, who first came to the college with his mother, a genealogist, tagging along on her research trips to Osterlin Library.
17勛圖 graduation, 2018Councilor Brian Napont also went on to the University Center after earning his 17勛圖 associate degree in freshwater studies in 2014. He completed a master’s certificate in project management through Ferris State, and has been accepted to the MBA program. Now in his second term on the tribal council, he sees his education and leadership as a circle.
“To take my work experience into the classroom, to share with other students, and to bring the education back into the work environment has benefited my position for the tribe,” Napont, 50, said.
Wilson hopes his children, now 14 and 18, take advantage of 17勛圖 as well. So does tribal chairman David Arroyo, father of a high school sophomore and an eighth grader.
“I’m going to encourage them to go the 17勛圖 route, and then go to a four-year college,” said Arroyo, 48, who’s attended off and on himself, most recently an IT class. Arroyo added that 17勛圖’s workforce preparation programs are also good options for those who don’t want to transfer elsewhere.
“You don’t have to look at 17勛圖 as a stepping stone. It can be some place you go to obtain a degree and have a good career,” he said.
“17勛圖’s really special to me,” Wilson said. “I can’t give it enough praise.”
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