Graduates credit community, Native resilience for educational success

By Alexander Bliven

Smoke Signals intern

The Tribal Education Department’s Graduation Celebration, held at the Spirit Mountain Casino Event Center Friday, June 26, saw Tribal graduates thank loved ones and various communities for their support during the long road to graduation.

The annual event celebrated graduates from high school through doctorate degree level this year.

Tribal Education Committee Chair Valeria Atanacio commended the graduates for their hard work and hoped that each one would continue to find success wherever life took them next.

“I’d like to offer my sincere congratulations to each and every one of you,” she said. “As you continue your journey, know that your Tribe celebrates you and believes in what you will contribute to our nation.”

Atanacio also praised the Education Department for its commitment to helping Tribal members achieve their goals and thanked Tribal Council for making possible the programs and services required to meet educational needs.

Graduates expressed how difficult the path to the finish line had been at times but were grateful for all the love and support from family, friends and the Tribe itself.

“To be so frank, I never really thought I’d have the drive to want to go to college,” high school graduate Trey Danforth told those in attendance. “But then I think back to my sophomore year and I got a bunch of tutors and a bunch of support from the Tribe — people who wanted to see me succeed. Those people who really just tried to drill into my head that I need to go further, that I should want to go further and that I have a whole, very bright life ahead of me and to just keep going.”

Danforth also gave admiration for a teacher who filled an important role for him.

“Through my entire time of high school, I think, like a lot of people, I did have a favorite teacher,” he said. “And this favorite teacher really drove me to be where I am now and what I want to do in my future. Because I never grew up with a father figure in my life, for those years of my high school career, he was very much like a father figure to me and that was wonderful. He watched me cry, he watched me play, he watched me bleed, he watched me learn about everything I could learn. I really just want to thank him for that. He was a really big role model in my life.”

College graduate Cheyeanne Zimmer said her personal experiences were the primary reason for earning her degree.

“My own path to standing here today is deeply rooted in my personal journey. I chose to pursue my Associate of Applied Science in Behavioral Health, majoring in addiction studies, because this work is very close to my heart, as I’ve been in recovery since 2018,” she said to audience applause.

Zimmer continued, “Within Tribal communities, we all know how generational trauma is a massive risk factor for addiction. But just as trauma can be passed down, so can healing. I chose this field because I wanted to turn my lived experience into a tool for our people to help break those cycles and walk alongside others as we find our way back to wellness.”

Zimmer added that perseverance and support from Native communities were instrumental in helping not only her but other graduates succeed.

“As Tribal people, resilience is woven into who we are,” she said. “When we face challenges, we don’t just carry our own strength, we carry the strength of our ancestors, the prayers of our Elders and loved ones and the unwavering support of our community. Every time you pushed through the doubt, you proved that our goals matter not just for ourselves but for the generations watching us. We are here because of the village that held us up. I want to say a deep thank you to our families, our parents, our partners and our children who showed us immense patience and love when our noses were buried in textbooks and laptops.”

“I also want to express my deepest gratitude to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde,” Zimmer said. “To be a member of a Tribal community who invests in our potential, believes in our visions and celebrates our victories is a gift I do not want to take for granted. The Tribe provides more than just resources, they provide a foundation to stand on.”

The audience enjoyed a meal of chicken, shrimp, pasta, lasagna, salad, bread sticks and dessert.

During the ceremony, graduates shook hands with members of the Education Committee and received a commemorative blanket.

Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier and Secretary Jon A. George were in attendance. George gave the invocation and led a drum song.

George said the Tribe is proud to recognize and honor those who pursue an education.

“You’ve made great achievements in your life,” he said, “No one can ever take that away from you. You’ve earned it.”

Mercier hoped that those who had the ability to pursue education beyond high school would take the opportunity despite the challenge.

“I don’t care what anyone says, education after high school is not easy,” he said. “I know when I finished high school, the idea of continuing to go to the classroom didn’t hold that much appeal, but I’m glad that I continued to do it and I’m glad to see that all of you have continued it as well. We need more and more educated Native professionals in this country in all sorts of professions, so all of you who are here tonight, you’re fighting the good fight. On behalf of Tribal Council, I want to thank you all for doing that and for making us all proud.”

2026 graduates

The following students were recognized at the June 2026 Graduation Celebration at the Spirit Mountain Casino Event Center Friday, June 26:

High school graduates:

Makya Alsup, Cottage Grove High School; Lily Bigelow, Willamina High School; Forever Butler, Sheridan AllPrep Academy; Aiden Campbell, Willamina High School; Teldon Coffman, Klamath Union High School; Trey Danforth, Willamina High School; Mahiashlok Eaglepipe, Willamina High School; Liam Graham, McMinnville High School; Kyla Grant, Imbler High School; Callie Gregg, Cheney High School; Cheyenne Haller, Willamina High School; Onaliyah Hostler, Willamina High School; Tey-met-tret Hostler, Del Norte High School; Emma Kent, North Medford High School; Shaiyla Krebs, Clackamas Academy of Industrial Arts; Bryson Leno, Willamina High School; Nacoma Liebelt, Willamina High School; John Marrufo III, Willamina High School; Christopher Matau Jr., Roosevelt High School; Tryance Matt, Ronan High School; Braiden McCoy, Southridge High School; Hunter Mendenhall, Willamina High School; Michaeli Mercier, Willamina High School; Tyler Mercier, West Salem High School; Andraya Morales, Central High School; Sophia Ortiz, Willamina High School; Sophia Parsinen, Port Angeles High School; Juliana Peters, Lebanon High School; Alex Pittman, West Salem High School; Lily Runningbird, Crook County High School; Adriana Sanchez, Century High School; Dominic Shaw, Willamina High School; Clara West, Willamina High School; Jerome Williams, Oregon City High School.

GED/adult high school completion

Aaron Anderson, adult high school completion; Angel Freeman-Farris, adult high school completion; Aliya Johnson, GED; Seth Rhodes, GED.

Associate degree

Madison Aaron, Chemeketa Community College; Kaylene Barry, Chemeketa Community College; Laney De Loe, Chemeketa Community College; Mariah Ostrander, Portland Community College; Donovan Smith, Marion Military Institute; Cody Wilson, Chemeketa Community College; Cheyeanne Zimmer, Chemeketa Community College.

Bachelor’s degree

Joshua Biery, Eastern Oregon University; Jade Colton, George Fox University; Jaden Haller, Oregon State University; Dylan Knight, Oregon State University; Inatye Lewis, Oregon State University; Ruby Mendez-Anderson, Chemeketa Community College; Audrey Mercier, University of Oregon; Jacob Olson, Oregon State University; James Pena, Emory University; Paige Rife, Oregon State University; Angella Schultz, Eastern Oregon University; Miranda Selander, Western Oregon University; Alicialeigh Selwyn, George Fox University; Kiana Slack, George Fox University; John Stryker, Oregon State University; Zachary Tasa, Oregon State University; David Wright, Oregon State University.

Master’s degree

Trevor Aaron, University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Amanda Apodaca, Georgetown University; Devin Boekhoff, George Fox University; Shawn Haggerty, Southern New Hampshire University; Dane Herrin, Willamette University; Genevieve Hughes, Corban University; Trinity Leno, Portland State University; Brittany Maffin, Emporia State University; Olivia Schultz, Oregon State University.

Professional degrees

Kayla Kneeland, George Fox University.