2019 Summer Academy Participants

The 2019 NCIA/MATC Sovereign Native Youth STEM Leadership Academy hosted students on the campus of University of Nebraska-Lincoln from Sunday, June 2 to Friday, June 7. There was a variety of STEM activities and a broad range of both Native and non-native professionals to talk and connect to students about personal and professional experiences.

More information bout academy leadership, guest speakers, and participating organizations can be found in the program booklet.

Program Schedule

Sunday, June 2
TimeAgenda ItemSpeakerLocation
12:30 - 1:00 PM Student Arrival Abel Hall
860 N 17th St, Lincoln, NE
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
1:00 - 2:00 PM Welcome Lunch and Introductions, Pre-Camp Testing Nebraska Hall Engineering Library
901 N 17th St, Lincoln, NE
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
2:00 - 3:00 PM Ice Breaker Activities with Worlds of Connections Nebraska Hall Engineering Library
3:00 - 4:20 PM Receive Bikes and Helmets & Safety Basics Abel Hall
4:20 - 4:30 PM Transition to Morrill Hall Morrill Hall
645 N 14th St, Lincoln, NE
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
4:30 - 5:30 PM Scavenger Hunt Morrill Hall
5:30 - 6:30 PM Introductions to Public Audiences

Mr. Luis Sotelo, Chief Diversity Officer, Doane University

Mr. Matt Mason, Executive Director of Nebraska Writers Collective, Nebraska State Poet

Morrill Hall
Classroom, 4th Floor
6:30 - 8:15 PM Opening Ceremony Morrill Hall
Elephant Room
8:15 - 8:20 PM Return to Dorms
8:20 - 8:50 PM Complete Daily Survey Nebraska Hall
Computer Lab
8:50 - 10:00 PM Supervised Activites at Dorms Abel Hall
10:00 PM Roll Call and Curfew Abel Hall

Monday, June 3
TimeAgenda ItemSpeakerLocation
7:45 AM Morning Roll Call Abel Hall
7:45 - 8:30 AM Breakfast Abel Hall
8:30 - 9:00 AM Bike to UNL Innovation Campus
9:00 - 10:30 AM How to Advocate for Yourself and Others through Public Speaking

Mr. Luis Sotelo, Chief Diversity Officer, Doane University

Mr. Matt Mason, Executive Director of Nebraska Writers Collective, Nebraska State Poet

Innovation Studio
2021 Transformation Dr #1500, Lincoln, NE
10:30 - 10:45 AM Flex Time/Break Innovation Studio
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM Boat Activity 1

Dr. Chris Cornelius, UNL Professor, MATC Education and Diversity Coordinator

Ms. Sydney James, UNL Civil Engineering Graduate Student, NCIA/MATC SNY STEM Leadership Academy Mentor

Innovation Studio
12:00 - 12:45 PM Lunch The Mill, Innovation Campus
2021 Transformation Dr #1350, Lincoln, NE, The Club
12:45 - 1:45 PM Native American Student Experience Panel

Ms. Sky Morgan, UNL Undergraduate Research Assistant, Center for Digital Research and Humanitites

Ms. Rebekka Schlichting, Assistant Director, Vision Maker Media

Ms. Angel Geller, Native American Student Advocate, Lincoln Public Schools

Ms. Channing Stellato, UNL Graduate Research Assistant, Lai Lab

Ms. Kirby Williams, Domestic Violence Outreach Coordinator, Native American Program, Legal Aid of Nebraska

The Mill
1:45 - 2:15 PM Breakout Sessions The Mill
2:25 - 5:00 PM Boat Activity 2

Dr. Chris Cornelius, UNL Professor, MATC Education and Diversity Coordinator

Ms. Sydney James, UNL Civil Engineering Graduate Student, NCIA/MATC SNY STEM Leadership Academy Mentor

Innovation Studio
5:00 - 5:30 PM Transition to East Campus
5:30 - 7:00 PM Dinner and Bowling Party East Campus Union
1705 Arbor Dr, Lincoln, NE
Lanes 'N Games
7:00 - 7:30 AM Transition to City Campus
7:30 - 8:00 PM Complete Daily Survey Nebraska Hall
Computer Lab
8:00 - 10:00 PM Supervised Activites at Dorms Abel Hall
10:00 PM Roll Call and Curfew

Tuesday, June 4
TimeAgenda ItemSpeakerLocation
7:45 AM Morning Roll Call
7:45 - 8:30 AM Breakfast Abel Hall
8:30 - 8:35 AM Transition to Classroom Nebraska Hall Engineering Library
8:45 - 10:30 AM Issue Speech Preparation

Mr. Luis Sotelo, Chief Diversity Officer, Doane University

Mr. Matt Mason, Executive Director of Nebraska Writers Collective, Nebraska State Poet

Nebraska Hall Engineering Library
10:30 - 11:00 AM Break/Flex Time
Transition to Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium
1 Memorial Stadium Drive, Lincoln, NE, Osborne Complex
11:00 - 11:45 AM Memorial Stadium Tour Memorial Stadium

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Transition to Governor's Mansion
12:15 - 1:20 PM Lunch at the Governor's Mansion Ms. Susanne Shore, First Lady of Nebraska Governor's Mansion
1425 H St, Lincoln, NE
1:20 - 1:30 PM Transition to Nebraska State Capitol
1:30 - 2:30 PM Meet with Senator Tom Brewer Senator Tom Brewer, Nebraska State Legislature Nebraska State Capitol
1445 K St, Lincoln, NE
2:30 - 3:15 PM Nebraska State Capitol Tour: Observation Deck Nebraska State Capitol
3:15 - 3:30 PM Transition to Nebraska History Museum
3:30 - 5:30 PM "The Omaha Speaking" Documentary and Panel

Dr. Rudi Mitchell, Omaha Tribe Elder, Professor of Native American Studies, Creighton University

Ms. Renee Sans Souci, Omaha Tribal Member, Teaching Artist

Nebraska History Museum
131 Centennial Mall N, Lincoln, NE
5:30 - 5:45 PM Transition to City Campus
5:45 - 6:45 PM Dinner Nebraska Hall Engineering Library
6:45 - 7:15 PM Complete Daily Survey Nebraska Hall
Computer Lab
7:15 - 10:00 PM Supervised Activities at Dorms Abel Hall
10:00 PM Roll Call and Curfew Abel Hall

Wednesday, June 5
TimeAgenda ItemSpeakerLocation
7:45 AM Morning Roll Call Abel Hall
7:45 - 8:15 AM Breakfast Abel Hall
8:15 - 9:30 AM Transition to University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM Tour of University of Nebraska Medical Center University of Nebraska Medical Center
Emile St & S 42nd St, Omaha, NE
12:30 - 1:15 PM Lunch at the University of Nebraska Medical Center University of Nebraska Medical Center
1:15 - 1:55 PM Transition to Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum
1:55 - 3:15 PM Self-Guided Tour of Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum
28210 W Park Hwy, Ashland, NE
3:15 - 3:55 PM Transition to East Campus
4:00 - 6:00 PM Biological Systems Engineering Hands-on Activities Dr. Greg Bashford, UNL Professor and Biomedical Engineer, Chair of Biomedial Engineering Graduate Program East Campus
3605 Fair St, Lincoln, NE, Chase Hall
6:00 - 6:15 PM Transition to City Campus
6:15 - 7:00 PM Dinner Nebraska Hall Engineering Library
7:00 - 7:30 PM Complete Daily Survey Nebraska Hall
Computer Lab
7:30 - 8:30 PM Group Work on Speaking Projects Nebraska Hall Engineering Library
8:30 - 10:00 PM Supervised Activities at Dorms Abel Hall
10:00 PM Roll Call and Curfew Abel Hall

Thursday, June 6
TimeAgenda ItemSpeakerLocation
7:45 AM Morning Roll Call Abel Hall
7:45 - 8:30 AM Breakfast Abel Hall
9:00 - 11:30 AM Bicycle Activity 1

Dr. Chris Cornelius, UNL Professor, MATC Education and Diversity Coordinator

Ms. Sydney James, UNL Civil Engineering Graduate Student, NCIA/MATC STEM Leadership Academy Mentor

Innovation Studio
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Practice Presentations Innovation Studio
12:00 - 12:45 PM Lunch The Mill
12:45 - 1:30 PM Native Career Pathways Panel

Mr. Kevin Abourezk, Managing Editor at Indianz.com

Ms. Shirley Sneve, Executive Director, Vision Maker Media

Ms. Kate Martz, Attourney, Baylor Evnen, LLP

Dr. Barbara Buttes, Native American Youth Demonstration Grant Coordinator, Lincoln Public Schools, Federal Programs

Dr. Colette Yellow Robe, UNL Assistant Director for Non-Cognitive Learning/Leadership, Student Support Services - TRiO Programs

Ms. Sarah Rowe, Visual and Performance Artist

Ms. Crystal Ross, Retention Advisor - Student Services, Nebraska Indian Community College

The Mill
1:30 - 2:30 PM Breakout Session with Advocacy Speech Presentations The Mill
2:30 - 4:30 PM Bicycle Activity 2

Dr. Chris Cornelius, UNL Professor, MATC Education and Outreach Coordinator

Ms. Sydney James, UNL Civil Engineering Graduate Student, NCIA/MATC SNY STEM Leadership Academy Mentor

Innovation Studeio
4:30 - 4:45 PM Transisiton to Dorm
4:45 - 5:45 PM Get Ready for Formal Dinner Abel Hall
5:45 - 6:00 PM Transition to Memorial Stadium
6:00 - 8:00 PM Formal Dinner Keynote Speaker: Mr. Reed Robinson, Tribal Relations Manager, National Park Service
"Strengthening Sovereignty on the Red Road: Survey, Design, Construction, Maintenance"
Memorial Stadium
North Stadium Skyline Club, 7th Floor
8:00 - 8:30 PM Complete Daily Survey Abel Hall
8:30 - 10:00 PM Supervised Activities at Dorms Abel Hall
10:00 PM Roll Call and Curfew Abel Hall

Friday, June 7
TimeAgenda ItemSpeakerLocation
7:45 AM Morning Roll Call Abel Hall
7:45 - 8:30 AM Breakfast Abel Hall
8:30 - 11:00 AM Final Video Project Presentation Love Library
1318 R St, Lincoln, NE 68588
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM College Admissions Panel

Ms. Crystal Ross, Retention Advisor - Student Services, Nebraska Indian Community College

Mr. Radell Nared Jr., UNL Senior Assistant Director for Diversity and Community Outreach

Mr. Daniel Maganda Sandoval, Admission Counselor for Diversity and Recruitment, Doane University

Ms. Sinai Carillo, Little Priest Tribal College

Willa Cather Dining Complex
530 N 17th St, Lincoln, NE 68588,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Pioneers Room
12:00 - 2:00 PM Closing Ceremony Dr. Lance Pérez, UNL Dean of the College of Engineering, Omar H. Heins Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Willa Cather Dining Complex
Pioneers Room
2:00 - 2:30 PM Post-Academy Surveys Abel Hall
2:30 PM Adjourn and Board Buses to Return Home

The Mid-America Transportation Center and the Nebraska Transportation Center greatly appreciate and acknowledge the generous support of:

NCIA
NCIA
BNSF
SEPA
GPM
UNMC
State museum
BIBA
NSF
USDOT
UPR