On the evening of April 21, the Northwest Technical College community gathered to honor the journeys of 54 American Indian students who will cross the commencement stage on May 8. During the 4th Annual American Indian Stole Presentation Ceremony, Wezhi’igewin, students were presented with graduation stoles by the NTC American Indian Resource Center as a moment of recognition, reflection and pride.

Each stole carries deep meaning. It represents the strength of ancestors who came before, the unwavering support of families and communities and the determination required to persevere through challenges in both education and life. The act of presenting the stole honors more than academic accomplishment; it affirms identity, celebrates resilience and recognizes the collective journey that makes each graduate’s success possible.

This year’s stole recipients are:

Devon Anderson; community health worker; Red Lake, Minn.
Landon Anderson; automotive service & performance; Bagley, Minn.
Thomas Barrett; community health worker; Red Lake, Minn.
Caden Barstad; electrical construction & maintenance; Fosston, Minn.
Myiesha Beasley; nail technician; Bemidji, Minn.
Heather Bird; community health worker; Bemidji, Minn.
Haylee L. Brun; health sciences broad field; Redby, Minn.
Anthony Bushey; automotive service & performance; Bemidji, Minn.
Michelle Butcher; management & entrepreneurship; Baraboo, Wis.
Ember Butterfield; nursing/generic and health sciences broad field; Bagley, Minn.
Rainice Campbell; dental assisting; Bagley, Minn.
Mark Dorman; electrical construction & maintenance; Bena, Minn.
Isabel Dunn; cosmetology; Bemidji, Minn.
Jamie Engen; cosmetology; Walker, Minn.
Ashley Gibson; nursing/generic and health sciences broad field; Bemidji, Minn.
Natalie Grauman; community health worker; Tenstrike, Minn.
Tucker Greenside; electrical construction & maintenance; Bagley, Minn.
Ileisha Guinn; cosmetology; Bemidji, Minn.
Shayla Hvezda; dental assisting; Bagley, Minn.
Ezryel Iceman; community health worker; Bemidji, Minn.
Fred Jackson; residential plumbing technology; Deer River, Minn.
Tyrell Jackson; dental assisting; Cass Lake, Minn.
Vanessa Johnson; nursing/practical and health sciences broad field; Lengby, Minn.
Karnica Jourdain; cosmetology; Red Lake, Minn.
Mya Kornezos; esthetics; Cass Lake, Minn.
Hope Liesener; business, administrative business specialist and human resources; Cass Lake, Minn.
Joseph Livingston; nail technician; Bovey, Minn.
Nora MacCoy; medical coding; Ely, Minn.
Shauna Martell; nursing/LPN step-in and health sciences broad field; Bemidji, Minn.
Crystal May-Prentice; community health worker; Red Lake, Minn.
Donovan Medina; automotive service & performance; Bemidji, Minn.
Wren Molash; dental assisting; Bemidji, Minn.
Torie Monroe; nursing/generic and health sciences broad field; Deer River, Minn.
Tina Moore; human resources; Bemidji, Minn.
Abriana Ortley; medical coding; Cass Lake, Minn.
Amy Pederson; cosmetology; Cass Lake, Minn.
Antavia Pendegayosh; accounting clerk and dental assisting; Bemidji, Minn.
Mari Robinson; nursing/LPN step-in; Bemidji, Minn.
Fawn Roy; nail technician; Bagley, Minn.
Jessica Smith; sales & marketing and business; Grand Rapids, Minn.
Lionel Smith; residential plumbing technology; Bemidji, Minn.
Valerie St. Cyr; business foundations and human resources; Cass Lake, Minn.
Michelle Stately; community health worker; Bemidji, Minn.
Danisha Stenson; nursing/LPN step-in and health sciences broad field; Bemidji, Minn.
Aliyaa Stevens; esthetics; Bagley, Minn.
Madison Sugar; early childhood education; Bemidji, Minn.
Abriannah Thielke; dental assisting; Deer River, Minn.
David Tonce; heating, air & refrigeration technology and residential plumbing technology; Shevlin, Minn.
Terra Warner; cosmetology; Bena, Minn.