The Rainer Fellowship
Leslie Costa-Guerra and Harold Kihega, Jr. Named 2012-2013 Rainer Fellowship Recipients by Marveline Vallo Gabbard
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he Rainer Fellowship was established in memory of John Rainer (Taos Pueblo), Co-founder and first director of the American Indian Graduate Center. When he was sent to boarding school at age thirteen, John spoke only his Native language. Yet, at a time when it was rare to find Indians with any degrees, he persevered, ultimately earning a master’s degree in education from USC in 1951. Holding positions such as Director of the National Congress of American Indians, Chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council and Director of the New Mexico Commission of Indian Affairs demonstrates his dedication to improving the quality of life and creating opportunities for Native Americans. His advocacy for education included participating in a Senate Budget Committee field hearing,
on science and math education, and testifying before the Senate and House Appropriations Sub-Committees on Interior Affairs. Recipients of the Rainer Fellowship are charged with following John Rainer’s path by using their education and career as tools for giving back to their communities – a logical assignment for this year’s recipients, given their history of volunteerism. They are already following John Rainer’s advice, “Get the best possible training you can.” Since the Rainer Fellowship is designed to reward the qualities and commitment characteristic of a future Indian leader, a portion of the award is to support participation in a voluntary activity that affords an opportunity to develop leadership skills.
“Continuing a Legacy” by Harold Kihega, Jr.
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hank you for the opportunity to express my gratitude to the American Indian Graduate Center. My name is Harold Kihega, Jr. I am a member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma and a descendent of the Comanche and Kiowa tribes of Oklahoma. I currently attend the University of Oklahoma, where I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Science Education, with an interest in evolution. Recently, I received notification, from the American Indian Graduate Center, that I was chosen to receive the 2012-2013 Rainer Fellowship. I feel honored that I was considered and humbled knowing that there are many other deserving graduate students across the nation. My college path started long before I was born. In the 1940’s – 50’s my grandmother, Pearl Monetathchi Kauley, began to build a college legacy. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from a teaching college, which is now part of the University of Wisconsin, and a Master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. It is hard to believe that she accomplished this, considering
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The American Indian Graduate
American Indians had gained their U.S. citizenship less than two decades earlier. Without a doubt, my grandmother emphasized the importance of earning a college degree to her children, as my mother became a registered nurse and her sister (my aunt) a social worker. I am fortunate that my grandmother was determined to get her education and to guide me down the same path. What I find incredible about my grandmother, mother and father is that each earned a college degree and returned to serve Native populations. I, too, have used my education to serve largely-populated American Indian communities. I began my teaching career at Oklahoma City Community College, where I served as co-sponsor for the American Indian Club. I later took a teaching position at Northern Oklahoma College, in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, where I also served as a co-sponsor for the American Indian Club. From there, I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to teach biological sciences at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, and