Soleil Burke, a young woman raised on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation in northwestern Nevada, said she fondly recalls her childhood beneath clear, star-filled skies and the supportive community that shaped her. Yet, her idyllic upbringing was marked by the absence of her father, a memory she said is both faint and poignant. Despite the challenges, Burke’s determination and the support of her mother and grandmother propelled her to academic success, culminating in her decision to attend the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources (CABNR).
Burke’s journey to higher education was made possible in part by the Native American Fee Waiver and scholarships from the university’s Tribal Students Program, which helped ease the financial burden of tuition and housing. Burke now resides at the university’s Indigenous Living Learning Community, a specialized housing option offering tribal students mentoring, tutoring, internships and networking opportunities.
Burke’s introduction to the college came through the Discover Your Path Tribal College Prep Camp, a week-long summer program run by the university’s Tribal Students Program. The camp, which Burke first attended in 2017, helps tribal high school students learn about applying to college and exploring career paths.
Encouraged by her grandmother to attend, Burke found the camp to be an important stepping stone in her academic journey. Each summer, she returned to the camp, which is held at Nevada State 4-H Camp in Lake Tahoe, and the experience solidified her decision to pursue higher education.
Another camp alum, Kendal Navajo, also benefited from the program. Her father is Navajo and her mother is Canadian Okanogan, and she grew up in Las Vegas. A student of rangeland ecology and management, Navajo said she faced challenges during the pandemic, including isolation and shyness. Her mother, who discovered the camp through social media, encouraged her to attend.
“The camp made me feel comfortable as if I were with people who truly understood how I felt,” Navajo said. “Being around other Natives in an interactive setting helped me feel at ease and more open to sharing my experiences because we could relate to each other.”
The Tribal College Prep Camp is designed to ease the transition to university life for students like Burke and Navajo. Many tribal students, particularly those from isolated reservations, face significant challenges adjusting to the fast-paced environment of a large university.
Kari Emm is a specialist with UNR’s Tribal Students Program and a camp administrator. She’s also a member of the Yerington Paiute Tribe and grew up on the Walker River Paiute Indian Reservation in Schurz, Nevada. She emphasizes the camp’s goal of helping students build confidence, understand the value of post-secondary education and access the resources available to support their success.
The camp’s popularity has surged since its inception, with applications increasing from 17 in 2022 to more than 110 this year. The program attracts students from across the country, including states like Oklahoma, California and Arizona. Camp activities blend academic presentations with fun, interactive experiences, including cultural performances, beach time and even polar bear plunges. For many students, the camp serves as a critical bridge between high school and college, preparing them for the academic and social demands of university life.
The camp’s impact is evident in the success stories of students like Burke and Navajo, and others, including Serenity Phelps, whose father is a Native of the Duckwater and Yomba Shoshone tribes in Nevada, and Isabella Smokey, who is a Native Wašiw. They are all first-year students at CABNR.
Emm, her sister Staci and mentor Daniel Coen, a military veteran and American Indian student coordinator, are lauded as invaluable mentors to the students. Coen emphasizes that many tribal students enter college unprepared for what’s ahead and unfamiliar with resources to help them through, making the camp a vital resource for their success.
“What we discovered is that many of our tribal students often don’t know what to expect of college,” Coen said. “Some end up dropping out due to being homesick or because they are unprepared for the academic demands and unaware of the excellent academic support resources offered by the university. That is why our camp is so crucial. It is where we begin preparing them to succeed from day one.”
The Tribal Students Program goes beyond the summer camp. Once enrolled, students benefit from professional development opportunities, internships, and job placements, with partnerships that include the U.S. Department of Agriculture and local indigenous development programs. The university also provides specialized housing for indigenous students and coordinates resources to offset the costs of higher education.
Support for the Tribal Students Program comes from a variety of sources, including private donors, state agencies and several university departments. The Native American Agriculture Fund has been instrumental in matching federal grants, allowing the program to expand since its creation in 2020.
For students like Burke, Navajo, Phelps and Smokey, the Tribal College Prep Camp has not only prepared them for college but also fostered lasting friendships and a shared sense of purpose. As they embark on their academic journeys, they hope to use their education to make a meaningful impact in their communities.
“Our camp friends and I feel grateful to the university for providing such a great learning and bonding experience,” Navajo said. “We all hope to bring what we’ve learned back to our communities and make a real difference.”
Source: UNR
