Brittany Smith Crowned Miss Florida Seminole at 52nd Annual ...

CLASS OF 2009 GRADUATESv GRADSFrom page 1BMembers of the Education Dept., including Director EmmaJohns, also attended the weeklong trip to get a chance to celebrateeach graduate’s accomplishment and also tell them about the infiniteeducational opportunities provided by the Tribe.She told the grads at the dinner banquet that they are each eligiblefor the Billy L. Cypress Higher Education Scholarship to attendthe university of their choosing or the Vocational School Scholarship.Johns said both scholarships will fully cover tuition, booksand all other education-related needs for each student.“It is a blessing for the Education Dept. to be able to send youto college,” she said.Johns also took the time to acknowledge all 34 Tribal citizenswho graduated high school with the Class of 2009. She said it wasone of the largest totals of graduates the Tribe has seen in years.Johns, on behalf of her department, then presented each of theseven graduates in attendance with a mini-laptop, called a netbook,to help them on their future educational journeys.Shelley MarmorA stingray gets close to (L-R) Pablo Cardenas, Amber Craig and EmilyCortez on Exzuma Island.saw places such as the Parliament House, the central location ofBahamian government activities, and Gregory’s Arch.On the final day of the trip, June 25, the graduates joined ChairmanMitchell Cypress for a daylong excursion to the Bahamian islandchain known as the Exzumas, located about an hour by boatfrom the Atlantis Report. On Exzuma Island, a popular vacationdaytrip location, the graduates went snorkeling, fed stingrays andswam with sharks in a remote island paradise setting.July 31, 2009 • The Seminole Tribune • 3BClass of 2009 TribalGraduate BiosDamen Bert19 Years OldWind ClanBrighton ReservationParents: Reese and Angie BertHigh School: Okeechobee HighFuture Plans: UndecidedPablo Cardenas19 Years OldWind ClanBrighton ReservationParent: Jennifer FishHigh School: Okeechobee HighFuture Plans: Applying to Haskell IndianNations University to study businessAmber Craig18 Years OldBird ClanBrighton ReservationParents: Jerry Craig andShannon PurvisHigh School: SEK Boca PrepFuture Plans: Attend Indian River StateCollege for two years and then transferto Oklahoma University to major inpsychologyBrittany Huff18 Years OldPanther ClanBig Cypress ReservationParents: John Huff Jr. and Nanette CypressHigh School: American Heritage HighFuture Plans: Accepted to Florida AtlanticUniversity, but undecided about where toattend collegeFalon Keyser18 Years OldOtter ClanTrail ReservationParents: Richard Keyser and Tiffany FiorellaHigh School: Johnson County HighFuture Plans: Accepted to East TennesseeState University to study nursingRandee McDonald18 Years OldPanther ClanBig Cypress ReservationParents: Rick and Sarah McDonaldHigh School: Cooper City HighFuture Plans: Accepted to NovaSouthwestern University to study fi ne artsShelley MarmorThe grads (L-R) Damen Bert, Brittany Huff, Amber Craig, Pablo Cardenas,Krystle Young, Randee McDonald and Emily Cortez, at the Queen’s Staircaseduring the historic city tour of Nassau on June 24.Emily Cortez19 Years OldPanther ClanBrighton ReservationParents: Jose Cortez and Rinella BaileyHigh School: Okeechobee HighFuture Plans: Plans to attend a vocationalschool and become a bail bondswomanKrystle Young18 Years OldPanther ClanHollywood ReservationParents: Steve Young and Brenda CypressHigh School: Pine CrestFuture Plans: Accepted to the University ofMiami to study biologyFort Pierce Liaison Sally R. Tommie, who served as banquetemcee, also spoke to the graduates, calling them “the future of theTribe.”“The greatest tool you have in your lives is education,” LiaisonTommie said.She also introduced the night’s guest speaker, Seminole PoliceDept. Captain Kipper Connell. Connell has been in law enforcementfor the last 26 years, though only with the Tribe for abouta year. He spoke to the grads about striving for greatness, both inhigher education and in life.“Set the bar high because you’ll only go as high as you believeyou can,” Connell said.He also reminded them to aspire for greatness as a way tohonor their parents, grandparents, family members and friends whohelped make their graduation possible.“If those who have come before you have made sacrifices foryou to get where you are today, I think the best way to honor themis to go further,” Connell said.In addition to the dinner banquet, the graduates took a historictour of Nassau, the capital city and one of the 700 islands that makeup the Bahamas. While on the tour the group stopped at sights includingthe Queen’s Staircase, Fort Montagu and Fort Fincastle andShelley Marmor(L-R) Falon Keyser accepts her graduation award from Chairman MitchellCypress at the dinner banquet on June 24 at the Atlantis Resort.Shelley Marmor(L-R) Randee McDonald, Falon Keyser, Brittany Huff, Amber Craig, Krystle Young, PabloCardenas, Damen Bert and Emily Cortez take a swim on Exzuma Island during their daylongexcursion on June 25.Tribal Grad Looksto Future in LawBY ELIZABETH LEIBAStaff ReporterPhoto Submitted by Tabitha OsceolaSheyanna OsceolaShelby DeHassGraduatesUniversity SchoolBY ELIZABETH LEIBAStaff ReporterFT. LAUDERDALE — Hollywood residentShelby DeHass was one of 140 seniors who graduatedfrom the University School of Nova Southeastern Universityin a ceremony held at the Broward Center forthe Performing Arts on May 23.Mom, Deborah, said she was happy to see herdaughter graduate.”I’m extremely proud,” she said. “I can’t believeit’s over.”DeHass participated in rodeo during all four yearsof high school and was a member of the Florida HighSchool Rodeo Association. She won the SportsmanshipAward from the organization during her senioryear and also served as Team Roping Student Directorfor two years.DeHass said she was excited to have graduated sothat she can move on to other endeavors.“Finally!” she exclaimed. “It couldn’t come soonenough.”In the fall she plans to attend Alabama’s TroyUniversity to earn her bachelor’s degree in physicaltherapy.HOLLYWOOD — Tribal citizen SheyannaOsceola was one of about 50 graduatesto walk across the stage in a graduation ceremonyheld at Hollywood Christian Academyon May 29.Osceola, 18, is the daughter of WilliamThomas Osceola and Tabitha Osceola. Hergrandfather is Marcellus Osceola Sr.Osceola was an active member of herschool’s volleyball team. She also participatedin rodeo barrel racing and was a memberof the Florida High School Rodeo Association,as well as the Georgia-Florida YouthRodeo Association.Mom Tabitha Osceola said she felt arange of emotions, including of course, pride,at her daughter’s graduation ceremony.“She’s an excellent achiever,” she said.“She sets her mind to something and she doesit.”The Hollywood resident will be attendingFlorida State University in the spring aftera semester at Broward College this fall.She said she plans to study corporate law andhopes to return to work for the Tribe in thefuture.Photo Submitted by Shelby DeHassShelby DeHassDivorceModificationsAppealsChild SupportJudith A. HomkoMarital & Family LawAlimonyPrenuptial AgreementsPaternity IssuesDomestic Violence(954) 525-0651 | (954) 525-1898 Fax320 S.E. 9th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316