News

Two students from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO), were among five students in the nation selected to participate as panelists at the American Indian College Student Success Symposium. The symposium was hosted by the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students and the University of North Texas and was recently held at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City.

Robynn Rulo (Osage), a sophomore from Pawhuska, is the president of the American Indian Center for Excellence (AICE) Student Advisory Council and is treasurer of the Native American Student Association (NASA). She also is the reigning Miss Indian NEO and was recently inducted in to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Rulo is majoring in general studies.

Taylor Tanner (Cherokee), a sophomore from Grove, is the president of NASA and the Psychology Club. He also serves as Vice President of AICE and is an active Upward Bound alumnus and is a member of the Social Work Club. Tanner is a psychology major.

AICE Director Emilee Truelove Ellick served on the University/College panel with three other Title III directors. Following the symposium, other AICE representatives including, Dr. Linda Sue Warner, Rachel Lloyd, Joy Bauer, and Claudia Little Axe attended the National Indian Education Association Annual Convention. Little Axe served on the NIEA Local Planning Committee.

“Rulo and Tanner represented AICE, NEO, and their tribes very well. Several national leaders conveyed to me their appreciation for their honesty and commitment to improving the transfer process,” Truelove said.  “The invitation to serve on both the student and professional panels speaks volumes about NEO’s commitment to native students. It shows we’re not only interested in getting them on our campus and walking across our stage at commencement, but we’re also committed to helping them walk across stages at the university and graduate levels,” Truelove continued.