A Tribal citizen studied engineering in Europe this summer after he was chosen for one of the most competitive and prestigious engineering internships in the country. Jake Biddy, a sophomore at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, was selected for the International Research Experiences for Students Project offered through Texas A&M University. He is hopeful his internship will influence other Native American engineering students to pursue the opportunity.
In the fast-paced world of real estate, Tribal member Crissy Rumford has made her mark. But she is now embracing a new chance to increase the visibility of Native Americans in the industry and become a resource for Tribal members entering the field.
Navarre family descendant Carson Capps just completed his term as a state officer with the Oklahoma FFA. As one of eight state officers, he represented the interests of more than 28,000 FFA members across the state. He values the leadership opportunities, career possibilities and support system he has found through the FFA.
Potawatomi physician Dr. Thomas Lewis and his wife, Dr. Stephanie Lewis, recently climbed to the Mt. Everest base camp in Nepal, leaving a CPN flag at the highest settlement in the world and coming away with a new sense of connection to their heritage.
Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member and Piedmont High School junior Shelby Grove was awarded a 2022 State Superintendent Award for Arts Excellence in Visual Arts for her work, “Tools,” which showcases her skills in shading and expresses her experience of change during the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this year, Citizen Potawatomi Nation District 12 Legislator Paul Schmidlkofer spent several weeks working on the set of the Peabody Awards-winning show Reservation Dogs as they filmed season two. The comedy-drama created by Seminole Nation citizen Sterlin Harjo tells the story of four Indigenous teenagers growing up in rural Oklahoma and their efforts to determine their futures.
As a high school senior, Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member Shelby O’Steen received the Jim Thorpe High School Volleyball Player of the Year award from the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in June 2022. The Bright Path Program recognizes the top high school athletes from across the state for their athletic and academic prowess.
Tribal member Mark McBride serves his community of Moore, Oklahoma, as the Oklahoma House Representative for District 53. He is motivated by community, and is particularly interested in improving education in the state and preserving sites of cultural and architectural value.
Jeannie Wamego Van Veen tells of her experience becoming a teacher and advocating for teachers as a part of the National Education Association.
This episode focuses on Behavioral Health Awareness Month and the societal stigma of having behavioral health issues. We also meet the only Citizen Potawatomi Nation member serving in the Oklahoma legislature and hear about a study on tribal economic impact in Oklahoma.