‘Modern day warriors’
MCC student, teacher honored for contributionsThe 2005 Native American Recognition Days honored MCC student, Suegin Jensen, and adjunct faculty member, Sergio Maldonado. The reception and banquet was held at the Heard Museum in Phoenix Oct. 13.
Jensen was selected as this year’s Outstanding Native American College Student.
She is a full-time student at MCC where she is pursuing her associates in general studies. Jensen said she will later transfer to the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture as a Chinese medicine major.
She said that she hopes to work at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center (PIMC) in hopes of helping other natives with alternative medicine.
Jensen is a member of the Inter-tribal Student Organization (ISO) and Asian-Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC).
She has helped with community volunteer efforts through her clubs. Jensen said that she has helped volunteer for Hurricane Katrina relief with ISO where she and other volunteers helped to organize donated items at St. Vincent de Paul.
Other honors she has received include being named the 2004 valedictorian for her high school graduating class and the National Honors Society Who’s Who.
Sergio Maldonado was selected as this year’s Outstanding Native American Man of Our Community.
“To each and every one of you, I have learned from you. I appreciate everyone who took the time to be here” Maldonado said upon receiving his award.
“I do thank you and the people who put (this event) together. Thank you very much,” he added.
He is a Cultural Science adjunct faculty member and is currently pursuing his doctorates in the School of Justice Studies at ASU.
Maldonado’s emphasis is indigenous sacred sites and spirituality. He said that he currently provides community work involving cultural spiritual services in federal prisons, assisting with pow-wows, and providing on-call spiritual services for individuals and PIMC.
Other honors Maldonado has received include 2004-2005 Instructor of the Year at MCC; 1992-1994 Presidential Appointment to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) by the first President Bush; and 1984-1985 American Indian Leadership Program Graduate Scholarship recipient.
Maricopa County Community College District Chancellor, Rufus Glasper, and Mesa Community College’s Director of the American Indian Center, Bo Colbert, were in attendance at the banquet.
“This was a beautiful ceremony. There were excellent awardees. The program was great and I am glad to be here,” Glasper said.
“An event like this is symbolic of what goes on in our (native) communities. People are able to become successful in the modern world and still hold onto their cultures,” Colbert said. “I am proud of our members from Mesa Community College. I am proud of Suegin and Sergio.”
Theresa Price, NARD co-chair, said that in respects to students receiving awards, the committee looks for individuals who have volunteered through community service, displayed leadership skills and contributions, have proven academic ability, and are Arizona students currently in school.
Price also said that in regard to community members, the committee looks for what an individual has given to the community as far as talents, leadership, and other skills; they look for the types of services provided to people, display of a commitment to individuals and groups, and display the ability to allow progress to be made for all types of people.
Volume 43, Issue 5. Today is
Suejin
Jensen
Sergio Maldonado