UNCP names inaugural Spirit of Old Main scholars
The American Indian Heritage Center has announced the recipients of the newly established Spirit of Old Main Scholarship at UNC Pembroke. The 2022-2023 recipients are Sydney Brooks, Asa Locklear, Faith Jacobs and Rakyah Jacobs. Brooks and Locklear graduated earlier this month from Purnell Swett High, while Faith Jacobs and Rakyah Jacobs are members of the 2022 graduating class at East Columbus High School.
UNCP places third in First Nations national rocket competition
UNC Pembroke placed third in the Mars Challenge at the 13th annual First Nations Launch National Rocket Competition in Wisconsin April on 22-24 in Wisconsin. The competition is open to students attending a tribal college or university, a Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution (NASNTI), or members of an active American Indian Science and Engineering Society collegiate chapter. Students designed, built and flew a high-powered rocket launched at the Richard Bong State Recreational Area.
UNCP alumna Keyla Bell breaking barriers in law enforcement
With her recent promotion, Maj. Keyla Bell is the highest-ranking female in the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. The UNC Pembroke graduate is only the fourth female to rise to major since the North Carolina State Highway Patrol was founded in 1929. Bell is also the first American Indian to wear the gold oak leaf cluster shoulder patch.
Bestselling author Angeline Boulley to speak at UNC Pembroke
Indigenous educator and New York Times bestselling author Angeline Boulley will speak at UNC Pembroke on March 28. Boulley, author of Firekeeper's Daughter, will be the final guest in the 2021-2022 Distinguished Speaker Series. The event will be held at 7 p.m. in the Upchurch Auditorium located in James A. Thomas Hall.
UNCP's Jayla Locklear crowned Miss Indian North Carolina
Jayla Locklear, a sophomore biology major at UNC Pembroke, was recently crowned Miss Indian North Carolina. The virtual pageant, hosted by United Tribes, was held on Feb. 12. Locklear resides in Robeson County and is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. "I am so blessed to have the opportunity to represent all eight tribes of North Carolina and the four urban Indian organizations," Locklear said. "During my reign, I will promote my platform "Speak up, Speak Loud, Stand up against Bullying."
UNCP’s Leslie Locklear appointed to Hunt-Lee Commission
UNC Pembroke’s Dr. Leslie Locklear has been appointed to the newly-created Hunt-Lee Commission. Locklear serves as program coordinator for the First Americans Teacher Education program at UNCP. Additionally, she serves as an adjunct professor in the Professional School Counseling Department and co-chair of the N.C. Native American Youth Organization Adult Advisory Committee. She previously served on the state’s DRIVE (Develop a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education) Task Force.
UNCP School of Education secures $1.1M grant to train American Indian educators
The UNC Pembroke School of Education has been awarded a five-year, $1.1 million federal grant to increase the number of highly qualified American Indian teachers committed to serving American Indian communities. The grant will support the First Americans’ Teacher Education (FATE) program, a pre-service training project for teachers. The FATE program provides financial support for future educators by reducing financial barriers and increasing enrollment and retention.
Cummings Aerospace hosts Project 3C STEM Career Summer Camp
Cummings Aerospace facilitated a day of exploration for high schoolers attending Project 3C Aerospace and Engineering Careers Camp. Twenty summer campers traveled to Huntsville, Ala., on July 20 to spend the day at Cummings Aerospace. Project 3C STEM summer camps, held at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, are for American Indian youth who reside in counties of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina service areas. The program is intended to expose students to STEM careers, the college environment at UNCP and American Indian history and culture.
Lynch, Walton named Udall Scholars
Aiyana Lynch and Sonny Walton have been named 2021 Udall Scholars–marking the first time two UNC Pembroke students were honored in the same year.
UNCP honors local icon establishing the Dr. Adolph L. Dial Endowed Professorship of American Indian Studies
Dr. Adolph L. Dial was once described as “a man for all seasons” largely due to his vast and varied life experiences which he readily shared with both students at UNC Pembroke and his community. His goal was always to inspire and make his world better than he found it. A key figure in the history of the university and Lumbee Tribe, Dial founded the American Indian Studies department and served 30 years as a faculty member directly influencing generations of students—an impact evidenced in the region’s leaders of today who called him a mentor, teacher and scholar.