Degrees of Excellence: A Celebration of Native Students
That's why ICT is proud to present Degrees of Excellence, a brand-new education special issue dedicated to Native students and higher education. Every story in this collection is fresh, deeply-reported, and told by Indigenous journalists.
Inside, you'll meet young changemakers like Evelyn Enos and Kiara Tanta-Quidgeon — both named to UNITY's 25 Under 25 list — who are blending cultural preservation, storytelling, and wellness to impact their communities.
You'll discover how more Native students are wearing regalia with pride at spring graduations, and what it took to get here.
You'll find an interactive map of every tribal college and university in the U.S., plus a user-friendly guide to FAFSA deadlines and financial aid questions for 2025.
And you'll go behind the scenes of the Wisconsin Tribal Education Promise Program with ICT's shared reporter Erica Ayisi, who explores how tuition coverage at UW-Madison is more than a financial story. It's about history, healing, and justice.
Whether you're a student, parent, educator, or just proud of the next generation, these are the stories to read right now.
Degrees of Excellence is live. Explore the full issue here.
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CBS News
10 hours ago
- CBS News
Deer hunter discovers rare subtropical wood stork in the wilds of Wisconsin
A very rare, and apparently very confused, subtropical wood stork somehow found its way to the wilds of Wisconsin. A hunter scouting for deer first sighted the bird Sunday in a remote section of the Mud Lake Wildlife Area in Columbia County, about 35 miles northeast of Madison, the state's capital, said Horicon Marsh Bird Club President Jeff Bahls. The hunter snapped some photos of the stork and sent them to Bahls, who doubles as a wildlife technician for the state Department of Natural Resources. Bahls confirmed that the bird in question was indeed a wood stork. He said it was likely a juvenile that may have hatched this spring since its bill was light-colored. Adult wood storks' bills typically turn black as they mature, he said. Bahls trekked into the wildlife area and saw the bird for himself on Monday, he said. Some other hikers also glimpsed the stork that day, he said. It hasn't been seen since Tuesday morning, when it was spotted flying northeast with a flock of pelicans, Bahls said. Wood storks are typically found in Gulf Coast states and Central and South America. They're listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. They're the only stork species that breeds in the United States, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Wood storks typically grow as long as 35 to 45 inches with wingspans reaching around 5 1/2 feet. Their heads and upper necks are covered with scaly gray skin rather than feathers. The only sound they can produce is a hissing noise. Climate change and habitat loss have been forcing birds north. Immature wood storks have no territory and typically explore during the late summer, Bahls said. The one that visited Wisconsin probably just got lost, he said. Birders flocked to Green Bay in August 2023 after a shorebird known as a roseate spoonbill was spotted in the area, the first sighting of such a bird in Wisconsin since 1845, and that bird was dead. Like the wood stork, that species is usually found in Gulf Coast states and Central and South America. Birders and scientists speculated that a storm blew the bird off course or, like the wood stork, it just got lost. "It's always fascinating where these birds come from and where they end up," Bahls said. "This is the time of year when we do get these oddball stray birds."
Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
'4-H has been a keystone': Graci O'Neal reflects on a decade of livestock shows
On a humid July morning in Danville, Indiana, Graci O'Neal stepped into the show ring at the Hendricks County 4-H Fair for the last time. O'Neal has been raising and showing livestock as part of the 4-H program since she was in the third grade, and her final show was a bittersweet moment. Now, having graduating high school, O'Neal prepares to take the next steps for which she says 4-H has helped prepare her. 4-H is a nationwide youth development program that engages children in community projects across a variety of areas including STEM, agriculture, healthy living and civic engagement. O'Neal said, "It is a big organization for kids truly to find their place of belonging, whether that is in the livestock projects or joining a club or finding an indoor project to do." She also explained that while she participates in the livestock shows, 4-H offers a wide variety of avenues for kids to get involved with. She said, "I think the biggest misconception is you have to live on a farm." O'Neal was inspired to get involved with 4-H when she saw the relationships her older brother Chase formed with the animals. She said, "I think cattle is my favorite just because they're a bigger species. You want to be friends with this animal because you don't want them to get spooked by you ... each of them is unique in their own way." Neither of the O'Neal parents grew up with livestock, but now the family has built their own barn and expanded their fields. Two goats are permanent fixtures of the yard, wreaking havoc as the girls try to practice with their show livestock. "Whether that was adding a barn or adding another field or adding animals, whatever that may be, we just built from the ground up," O'Neal said. O'Neal doesn't participate in 4-H for the glory of showmanship. She is constantly looking to pass on her knowledge to younger participants, including her sister Emma and her cousins Mackenzie O'Neal and Madison Hoyt. The four girls spent hours together preparing for the Hendricks County 4-H Fair. O'Neal said, "I love working with other 4-Hers. I love being able to help them and be a friendly face so they're not scared to ask for help. I just want them to have the best experience they possibly can in 4-H and in livestock too." On the day of the sheep show as seven year old Madison waited to participate in the mini 4-H competition, Graci sat next to her and offered last minute advice. When Madison stepped into the show ring with her lamb for the first time, Graci was right beside her as her mentor. O'Neal said, "I've been grateful I've been able to do it with her, just being able to see her smile every time." O'Neal will start her freshman year at Purdue University this fall where she will study animal sciences with a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine. She said, "I would say 4-H has been a keystone in me wanting to pursue that future goal."
Epoch Times
7 days ago
- Epoch Times
FAFSA Application Is Open for Early Testing—Here's What to Know
NEW YORK—The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2026–27 school year has opened for a limited number of students as part of a beta test, the Department of Education says. The department is rolling out two beta testing phases before the application is fully available to everyone in October. At first, the FAFSA form will be available for a small number of students and families, chosen via existing partnerships with community organizations and schools.
