Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University celebrated 44 undergraduate degree and certificate recipients and their first 15 master’s degree recipients during their 38th qnnual commencement ceremony, Saturday, May 18 at the LCO Honor the Earth Powwow grounds.
Six individuals received Master of Science in Business Management degrees and five persons received Master’s in Human Services degrees.
University President Dr. Russell Swagger and LCO Tribal Governing Board member David Bisonette welcomed guests and congratulated the graduates. Misty Nordin, Red Cliff tribal member, gave the invocation.
“We are very proud of the history and values the university was built on—including integrity, leadership, collaboration, honesty and respect,” Swagger said. “These graduates exemplify all of these values.”
Faculty member Dennis White was presented with an honorary doctoral degree in Ojibwe language, mathematics and fine arts, an Eagle feather and Pendleton blanket for his 57 years of teaching. He was cited for his “exceptional contributions to the community and his unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Ojibwe culture and heritage. His tireless efforts have left an indelible mark, inspiring future generations to honor and celebrate their rich traditions.”
White responded that “We should be teaching what we like to do. I enjoy students, no matter what their questions are. The only thing to learn as a teacher is how little you know and how much there is to learn. There can’t be any better place to do that than LCO.”
Monica Isham, Board of Regents vice-chairperson and Sawyer County Circuit Court judge, said “change, progress is necessary. Secondary education is becoming more advanced. We have to be able to adapt to keep up with this changing world. We are evaluating every program that we offer to make sure that we are providing an education to our students that will prepare them for the career that they have chosen.
“When we are together, we are so strong. We refuse to let negativity win. Our motto is ‘Honor our past and strengthen our future.”
The keynote speech was given by Donna LaSieur, who was a member of the first graduating class of the University when it was a community college. She also is also the grandmother of this year’s American Indian College Fund Student of the Year, Andre’Anna Acosta.
LaSieur earned a Bachelor of a Science degree in First Nations Studies from UW-Superior and master’s degrees from St. Mary University in Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She has worked for the LCO Ojibwe School since 1991.
LaSieur said her mother, Susan Sharlow LaSieur, encouraged her to “keep learning for my children. LCO Community College began my educational journey. I wanted more, and kept enrolling in more classes. I liked the small classes at LCO, with direct access to my teachers and resources.”
She currently is a special education teacher at LCO Ojibwe School.
“I wanted to be a role model, to see that they (students) too could pursue higher education and build a dream,” LaSieur said. “My granddaughters have taught me to never give up. My family is a generational model for higher education.”
Andre’Anna Acosta told her fellow graduates that “Our experiences at LCO OU have shown us the beauty and strength in diversity. Your voice matters and your vision can inspire change.:
Jamie Gohde, director of the LCO OU nurse’s program and faculty senate president, led the five Associate of Science nursing degree recipients in reciting the Florence Nightingale Pledge. Family members pinned each graduate.
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