the RCC Foundation recently was the recipient of a $30,000 gi昀琀. 吀栀e gi昀琀 is from the Robert P. Holding Foundation and was presented to the college by First Citizens Bank to create the First Citizens Bank Endowed Scholarship. “吀栀e Foundation supports the programs of the North Carolina Community College System, and the gi昀琀 is to endow scholar- ships,” said Hank Dunbar, Manager of Charitable and Philanthropy Services at First Citizens. “First Citizens Bank and the Rob- ert P. Holding Foundation are proud of the relationship they have with many of the North Carolina Community Colleges.” Dunbar continued by saying, “吀栀e Foundation sees this gi昀琀 as the token of appreciation for all that the North Carolina Com- munity Colleges do to promote the education and welfare of the people of North Carolina.” Resilient & End甀爀ing 3RD NATIVE AMERICAN CELEBRATION DRAWS HUNDREDS TO RCC CAMPUS “Resilient and Enduring – We are still cal locations.” “Who were the 昀椀rst scientists?” Lomboy here.” asked the audience. “Native Americans, 吀栀e event drew hundreds of visitors, we were the 昀椀rst scientists, we were the 吀栀at’s the message that organizers of including school children from across ones who understand the soil from the Robeson Community College’s 3rd An- the region – some from as far away as way we touch it, we understand the wa- nual Native American Heritage Month Scotland County. ter, we understand the stars, we navigat- Celebration tried to convey to those ed and lived on this land for thousands attending the cultural exhibition held on In the opening ceremony, the Lumbee of years because of our connection to its campus today. Warriors presented the 昀氀ags as the what is now called STEM, but to the National Anthem was sung by Mariah Earth, and how we take that and apply “It is up to us to keep who we are alive,” Graham, a student at RCC. A poem i t .” stated John Oxendine with the Lumbee written by Amanda Bullard was read Tribe as he gave the ceremonial blessing. during the ceremony, which aimed to “STEM is not just us moving one “We respect the fact that God made us raise awareness of missing indigenous generation towards science, technology, Native and that’s why we do this. He women in tribal communities. engineering and mathematics, it’s about made us Native, so we still do Native moving all of our generations towards things to keep our culture alive. We re- 吀栀e poem “Red Hand Campaign” that,” Lomboy said. “It’s about how we spect that we are Native, and it’s our way read in part – “吀栀at is not just a feath- are honoring our tribal history and how to honor God and say thank you.” er 昀氀owing in the wind, it is a Native we honor our elders… that part has Woman’s soul in someone else’s hands… been very important to us.” Heritage, Oxendine says is important, not able to be free or own her own land not just for Native people, but for every- or I should say reservation, unable to Guests were also treated to a special one. depend on justice in this nation. Red powwow in the a昀琀ernoon, which Hand Campaign, please look it up… featured song and dance by the Lumbee “I know there are a lot of non-native On reservations, 84% will experience Ambassadors and the Lumbee Drum people here today,” Oxendine told the violence in their lifetime… that’s 4 out Group, with rich storytelling and history audience. “Everyone has a culture; ev- of 5…Missing indigenous women is an lessons. eryone has a heritage and everyone has epidemic… 5,295 lost in one year, that is something where they came from and a new trail of tears…” “I would like to thank you for allowing it is up to you 昀椀nd out what that is and us to come today and to give back to where you come from…吀栀e Lumbee Ashley Lomboy, the global information who we are as Native people,” Oxendine Tribe is a tribe that banded together, security manager for Corning Optical said in closing. meaning we are made up of many tribes, Fiber and Cable served as the guest we are named a昀琀er the Lumbee River, speaker for the event, speaking on the 吀栀is event was sponsored by the RCC which is now called Lumber River… Waccamaw Siouan STEM Studio. FAPSS Grant, which stands for First many tribes are named a昀琀er geographi- American Pathways to STEM success.