Elwha Watershed Information Resource
Home › People and Communities › Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe › Elwha Klallam Culture › Life on the Reservation Today

Graduations

Graduations are a time of great celebration within the tribal community. Each year Native Americans graduating from Port Angeles High School or receiving their General Equivalency Diploma (GED) are invited to attend a dinner sponsored by the Johnson O'Malley/Title Indian Education Parent Committee. It’s a chance for family and friends to join the students to celebrate their success. The Elwha Dance Group always performs at this popular annual event.

 
 
Dennis Sullivan embraces his granddaughter Rachel Sullivan with pride at her Graduation Dinner night on May 30, 2003. Dinners are hosted by the Johnson O'Malley Parent Committee.
 
 After their high school graduation in 2004 from the Port Angeles High School, Lower Elwha Klallam members Alisa Lawrence, Suzie Bennett, and Marcy Laungayan embrace for a proud moment together. Currently, Alisa is a college student at Peninsula College. Suzie works in the tribal enrollment and police department for the tribe, and Marcy is a full-time student at Peninsula College as well as the Elwha Warrior Queen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For many students, high school is the end of their formal education. However, the number of students continuing their education is on the rise. According to a Institute of Educational Sciences report, the number of Native Americans attending college has doubled in the last 25 years. Students from the Elwha Tribe are attending local colleges--and even taking college classes during high school through the Running Start program--in greater numbers than ever before.

Thirteen tribal members have their Bachelors degree. Eight students are applying for a Masters degree over the next two years. The Tribe is increasing educational support to increase the graduation rate. One incentive in place is the requirement of a high school degree for employment within the Tribe.

 
 Pictured here are (from left: Brenda D. Francis, Raymond Moses, and Garnet V. Charles) graduates of the Evergreen State College on June 1, 2005. They are pictured after their graduation from earning their Bachelor Degrees. The number of students continuing their education is getting higher. According to a report done by the Institute of Educational Sciences, the number of Native Americans attending college has doubled in the last 25 years.
Credit: Brenda D. Francis