2023 Sovereign Native Youth STEM Leadership Academy
June 18 - June 22
Activity Highlights
- Engineering Tours & Activities
- Nebraska Innovation Campus
- Bowling Party
Release Forms
Parents/Guardians must sign and return the Release Form and NIS Waiver Form for a student to participate in the program. Students will not be transported to the Academy if we do not receive the forms.
Story Map Project
Storytelling and place are two concepts that are central to Native life. In this activity, we invite you to tell a story about yourself, your family, an event, or an aspect of Native life that is important to you. We’d like to invite you to think of how your theme is related to a place, or places.
This activity will introduce you to a contemporary method of storytelling. ArcGIS Storymap is software that allows you to create interactive, multimedia stories. Here is a sample, created by a student, that tells about the loss of Native land in the US: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/33c7623aab8b46b5926e2f74605dfe74.
Before the summer academy, to prepare for the Storymap activity, please:
- Think of the story you'd like to tell
- Collect images and/or photos to tell your story (digital or physical)
- Access to any digital images saved online
UNL Libraries has scanners on hand to digitize photos or other physical media you’d like to use. There are also images from our Archives that you can use for your story.
For questions, please contact: Gabriel Bruguier, gbruguier2@unl.edu.
Lodging
Students will be staying at the University Suites, 1780 R St, Lincoln, NE 68508. University Suites offers suite-style housing, lounges, a recreation room, and C-store. The rooms include:
- Four person suite with extra-long twin beds
- Extended linen package: sheets, pillow, pillowcase, blanket, towel
- Bedrooms with desk, chair, dresser, closet
- Kitchenette with refrigerator, microwave, and sink
- Bathroom with shower, toilet, and double vanity
- Living room with furniture
- Fully air-conditioned
- Complimentary Wi-Fi and parking
- Laundry room on each floor
- Convenience store and vending machines
- TV lounges and game room
- 24-hour front desk
Transportation Logistics
Transportation to and from Lincoln and various activity locations will be provided to participants for free. Please allow some flexibility in the pick up and drop off times due to traffic, construction, and delay from previous stops. A contact number will be provided for each trip if you are having trouble finding the location, running late, etc.
Lincoln Residents
Parent/guardians of students living in Lincoln, NE will be responsible for dropping off their student on Sunday, June 18 for the start of the academy, and picking them up at the end of the academy on Thursday, June 22.
Sunday, June 18
Drop off location: University Suites, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1780 R St, Lincoln, NE, 68508) at 5:00 PM.
Thursday, June 22
Pick up location: University Suites, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1780 R St, Lincoln, NE, 68508) at 1:00 PM.
Residents near Macy, Winnebago, Walthill, Emerson, and Rosalie
Students from these locations will be riding on one bus. Parents/guardians of students in these areas are responsible for getting their student to/from one of the three locations below.
Sunday, June 18
Stop 1: Winnebago Public School parking lot (202 Osborne St, Winnebago, NE, 68071), at 2:15 PM. The bus will depart at 2:30 PM for UmoNhoN Nation Public School.
Stop 2: UmoNhoN Nation Public Schools - Front Side Parking Lot (470 Main St, Macy, NE 68039) at 2:45 PM. The bus will depart for University Suites at 3:00 PM
Thursday, June 22
Students will board the bus at 2:00 PM from the University Suites.
Stop 1: UmoNhoN Nation Public Schools - Front Side Parking Lot (470 Main St, Macy, NE 68039) at 4:30 PM. The bus will depart for Winnebago Public School at 4:45 PM
Stop 2: Winnebago Public School parking lot (202 Osborne St, Winnebago, NE, 68071) at 5:00 PM. The bus will depart at 5:15 PM.
Residents near Niobrara, Santee, Bloomfield, and Verdigre
Students from these locations will be riding on one bus. Parents/guardians of students in these areas are responsible for getting their student to/from one of the three locations below.
Sunday, June 18
Stop 1:Santee Community School parking lot (206 E Frazier Ave, Santee, NE 68760) at 12:30 PM. The bus will depart at 12:45 PM for Niobrara Public School.
Stop 2:Niobrara Public School parking lot (247 NE-12, Niobrara, NE 68760) at 1:15 PM. The bus will depart at 1:30 PM for University Suites
Thursday, June 22
Students will board the bus at 2:00 PM from the University Suites.
Stop 1:Niobrara Public School parking lot (247 NE-12, Niobrara, NE 68760) at 5:30 PM. The bus will depart at 5:45 PM for Santee Community School.
Stop 2:Santee Community School parking lot (206 E Frazier Ave, Santee, NE 68760) at 6:00 PM. The bus will depart at 6:15 PM
Supplies List
Students participants need to bring:
- Insurance card (or copy of) in the event of required medical treatment
- Rain jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Clothing for athletic activities (basketball, volleyball, indoor recreation)
- One dressy outfit for the formal dinner
- Casual clothes for everyday activities
- Long pants and close toed shoes for lab participation
- Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, contacts & contact solution, deodorant, shampoo & conditioner, hairbrush/comb, sanitizer, hair ties)
- Medication (allergy medicine, stomach medicine, etc.)
- Extra blanket if necessary (dorm rooms are air-conditioned)
Do not bring tobacco products, e-cigarettes, vapes, Juuls, weapons, illegal items, etc.
Students will receive as part of Academy Registration:
- Summer Academy t-shirt
- Drawstring Backpack
- Water Bottle
Behavior Expectations
The Sovereign Native Youth STEM Leadership Academy will adopt behavior expectations similar to those observed in a high school environment. Students are expected to:
- Be respectful, courteous to and cooperative with leaders and other students
- Be on time to activities, roll call, and curfew
- Be an active participant
- Be respectful of the learning environment
- Be respectful of school property and the personal property of others
The directors of the Sovereign Native Youth STEM Leadership Academy reserve the right to dismiss any youth from the academy who is found to have violated behavioral expectations.
Any major violation (theft, vandalism, or attempting to cause, or threatening to cause physical injury to another person, fighting, drugs/alcohol (possession or use, etc.)) at any time will result in immediate dismissal.
Dismissed youth will be sent home at their expense and will be responsible for all other expenses associate with their dismissal. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) will be immediately notified of a youth's dismissal.
The Mid-America Transportation Center greatly appreciates and acknowledges the generous support of:
