Hopi to get $1 million for college and other projects

POLACCA—Help is on the way for Hopi People, especially for college bound-bound Hopi students. Hopi Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr. said bills that would appropriate more than $1 million for Hopi projects are making their way through the Arizona State Legislature.

He also proudly announced that the Hopi Tribe has established an educational endowment fund that will start paying for the college education of Hopi students in the fall.

The Chairman offered his comments during the national Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society induction dinner at Hopi Junior/Senior High School April 18. Approximately 250 parents, friends, teachers and staff attended the event.

There were 10 members inducted into the NHS and 14 into the NJHS. The new NHS members are Jeffrey Kewanimptewa, Donovan Lee, Lovelda Chase, Darlene Leslie, John Toms, Cheryl Talashie, Eva Bahnimptewa, Alyssa Fredericks, Noranda Yazzie and Tara Secakuku. The new NJHS members are Tennille Whitehair, Loran Lomakema, Simana Tenakhongva, Rachel Honhongva, Jeremy Jelle, Corey Bahnimptewa, Brendan Steele, Joel Melvin, Glenndalynn Naqua-Hyeoma, Yvonne Kaye, Savanna Anderson, Marissa Leslie, Arnold Lomatewama Jr. and Roland Honahnie.

Chairman Taylor said the appropriation bills for Hopi have passed the House and await the vote of the state Senate. The $1 million includes funding for senior citizens centers, Hopi radio and welfare reform. The chairman praised the Hopi Junior/Senior High School governing board and administration for running an excellent school that encourages students to excel academically. He noted that several of his classmates from Winslow High School were in the audience as proud parents of honor Society inductees. He also said Hopi High has quality teachers who have shown great commitment to the students.

“I never made it into the National Honor Society or National Junior Honor Society. That’s the proof that you have to do exceptionally well to get in. This is what will give you what you deserve in the world today,” he said.

He recounted how his parents, Amelia and Wayne Sr. from Shungopavi, made education a priority for him at an early age.

He added that the Hopi Tribal Council has also made education a priority by starting the Hopi Education Endowment Fund and by placing $10 million in it.

“The Hopi Tribal Council made a major commitment and we should be thankful to them for taking this action,” he commented. Chairman Taylor said Hopis live in a poverty situation and need to ask how they can get out of it.

“We depend on you,” he told the students. “Human resources are one of our most important assets that we have…We need to make resources available to our young people. I want all of you to dream big because there are no limits for each of you as individuals and what Hopi can obtain.”

David Herbert, principal of Hopi High, commended the chairman for showing continual support to the high school programs.

Dr. Paul Reynolds, superintendent of Hopi Junior/Senior High School, said NHS and NJHS have become academically elite groups that deserve the recognition they receive through the banquet.

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