Red Cloud Middle School Graduation
posted on May 31, 2012
Red Cloud Indian School celebrated eighth grade commencement with a Mass and graduation ceremony last Thursday, May 24.
Fr. George Winzenburg, S.J. and Fr. Peter Klink, S.J. celebrated the Mass. As local Lakota drum group “Sons of the Oglala” sang the entrance song, the 18 graduating eighth graders processed into Holy Rosary Church. This was followed by a rite of wazilyapi (traditional Lakota purification with cedar smoke). Students led many parts of the Mass, including the reading and responsory, prayers of the faithful, and procession of the gifts.
After Communion, special medals were blessed by Fr. Peter Klink and given to the graduates. This was following by the awarding of scholarships to the following students:
Albert and Elvina Fruge Memorial Scholarship – Miranda O’Donnell
Calvin Jumping Bull Citizenship Award – Hunter Blacksmith
Cathy Laurence Memorial Scholarship – Jacob Cousin
Father Bill McKenney Academic-Athletic Award – Trista Merrival
Frances Mussatto Memorial Scholarship – Leannah Vitalis
George Stuart Laurence Scholarship – Justin Mesteth
New Horizons Scholarship – Kayla Starr
Phyllis Fairbanks Memorial Scholarship – Robert Clifford and Shelby Houle
Pine Ridge Scholarship – Troy Janis
Red Cloud Academic Excellence Award – Marlee Kelly
The Roswell Truman Scholarship – Brooke Ghost Bear
Wookiye Woohiye Award – Koty Janis
The graduates then received their diplomas and were sung an honoring song by Sons of the Oglala. The members of the eighth grade graduating class of 2012 are as follows:
Hunter Blacksmith
Robert W. Clifford
Jacob Allen Cousin
Brooke Lynn Ghost Bear
Henry Scott Hawkins
Shelby Houle
Koty Rae Janis
Troy A. Janis
Marlee M. Kelly
Trista Jean Merrival
Justin T. Mesteth
Miranda O’Donnell
Kobey O’Rourke
Destiny Rose Short Bull
Kayla Marie Starr
Dylan Dean Tobacco
Leannah Raine Vitalis
Tyler J. Wright
Congratulations to all of the graduates, and welcome to high school!
A photo gallery of the graduation ceremony can be viewed HERE.
