Commencement 2022

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2022!

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Recording courtesy of Good Guy Productions.

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Commencement 2022

Commencement Speaker:

Minerva White

Minerva is an Akwesasne elder, who has been at the forefront of Native American Education in New York State for many decades.

Minerva graduated Cum Laude from St. Lawrence University in 1986, a recipient of an Honorary Ph.D. from Clarkson University in 1977 and from the State University of New York in 1986, and has worked tirelessly to build a better future for our people through education.

Beginning as early as 1968, she was instrumental in correcting the broken lines of communication that existed between our community, the state, and educational institutions.In May 1968, she ran for a seat on the school board to provide representation for Mohawk people and to help influence the education of our children. It was time when State law prevented Native Americans from voting and serving on school boards.Her first attempt was unsuccessful, but her persistence and determination compelled them to change the law and to run the following year—successfully winning a seat along with a fellow community member and serving as an important voice for our people.

Her efforts to provide opportunities in education continued at St. Lawrence University and resulted in programs to further assist our people; such as Upward Bound, HEOP, the Special Services Program, and construction of the first Native library east of the Mississippi.As a result of Minerva's work with St. Lawrence, the University continues to conduct educational outreach to our community with a tutoring program at the Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club and a Master’s in Education course offered at the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.

She was also instrumental in bringing other educational institutions to our community—like Mater Dei in offering a Associates Degree Program and North Country Community College in providing an accounting course to help our local basket makers and other trades people.Her life’s work has earned her the Regents Medal for Excellence from the New York State Board of Regents and the North Country Citation Award from St. Lawrence University.

In retirement, she continues to be a strong advocate for education and continues to identify catalysts to improve and strengthen Mohawk education.”