Southeastern's Native American Visitation Day set for March 11

by SOUTHEASTERN PUBLIC INFORMATION
February 23, 2009

DURANT, Okla. -- Southeastern Oklahoma State University's Native American Student Visitation Day is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11.

The event is open to students in grades 10, 11, and 12. Registration will be from 9-9:30 a.m. in the old Student Union Ballroom and the day concludes at 2 p.m. The day features a pizza lunch, scholarship information and campus tours. The first 200 students to RSVP will receive a free T-shirt.

This year's keynote speaker is Richard Hight, an award-winning artist and teacher, as well as a much sought-after motivational and inspirational speaker. He has worked with groups and organizations around the world, using his artistic skills to create large 6-feet by 8-feet works to visually communicate with, entertain, and inspire his audiences.

Hight has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX television. His programs hold spellbound crowds of 10 to 10,000.

Chris Wesberry, SE's Academic Advisor for Native American Students/Coordinator for the Native American Center for Student Success, said, "Native American Student Visitation Day is a great event for us each year. This gives us an opportunity to show off our campus and for Native American high school students to see what Southeastern is all about."

"We anticipate having about 200 students from 10 or more schools. Our speaker/artist will inspire all of us through his artistic ability and motivational words. It will be a great day."

Southeastern has a long and successful history of providing higher education opportunities for Native American students. The University service area covers significant parts of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nation and partners with the tribes to provide specialized services for all Native American students. Southeastern is among the national leaders in the percentage of graduates that are Native American, the overall number of Native American graduates, and Native American graduates in education and psychology.

For further information, contact Wesberry at 580-745-2376 or cwesberry@SE.edu.