AIR 2010 Awards Photos Page

American Indian
Recruitment Programs

"Our mission is the promotion and success of American Indians within education."

Congratulations to Rose Vasquez on being named Miss Kumeyaay 2010 Ms. Vasquez was crowned Miss Kumeyaay 2010-2011 at the Viejas Tribal Gathering on Saturday, August 28th. Emily Burgueno, also from the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, was the previous Miss Kumeyaay and gave her crown and advice to Rose. Rose grew up in the foster care system and then was adopted by a Tribal Family on the San Pasqual Reservation. We respectfully thank the San Pasqual Tribe and the adopted family for raising Rose with our culture, customs and traditions. This is an example of the law and spirit of the Indian Child Welfare Act. “Native people raising Native children” Rose is attending Cal State San Marcos this Fall. She is honored to represent the 12 Tribes of the Kumeyaay Nation. She will make public appearances at parades, conferences, ceremonies, and educational events. Respectfully Submitted, Brandie Taylor Vice-Chairwoman Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel

Congratulations to Cathy Espinoza from the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians Nov. 1 2010 Cathy Espinoza is being honored by San Diego Councilman's Todd Gloria Office for excellence within our American Indian Community. Again, Congratulations!!!!!

AIR Student Achievement Winner 2010 AIR Program's Student Award Recipient for 2010 is: Cathy Espinoza. Our “Student(s) of the Year” are chosen from our pool of students who have participated within our program for one year or more, in good academic standing and have the dedication in pursuing higher education. Our selected student has been in our program for two years (plus) and is now attending Palomar College. Cathy Espinoza (Kumeyaay-Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians) is a remarkable person who has attended our AIR Program for the last three to four years. She has done this despite numerous obstacles that would prevent the average student from seeking out assistance to pursuer higher education but her dedication and drive to be successful makes her of great ideals and a person of great character. Such obstacles include having to drive over 70 miles (one way) to come to our educational program or having to go to school three hours prior to the start. Her drive, motivation, participation in her culture and pursuit of self improvement makes her our AIR Program Student Honoree. Congratulations to you as we will look to you to guide our Tribal Nations in a great and fantastic future.

Mentor of the Year 2010; Wynona Peters (Tohono O’odham Nation) The key component for our AIR Program is our volunteer mentors who work with our students in the hope to give these students a greater future through success in their current academics and through higher education. This year’s honoree is Wynona Peters, a senior at the University of San Diego and a McNair Scholar, who has volunteered her time within our program for over two years. She has brought great inspiration to our students along with her commitment to our Native community to help secure a greater future. We congratulate Wynona and thank her for all her help and support for our AIR Programs.

Former AIR Students start school at Stanford, Cal State University San Marcos and Palomar College Congratulations to Chandler Hood and his family, for completing his first semester/quarter at Stanford University! A tremendous accomplishment! Congratulations to Rose Vasquez on starting school at CSUSM and completing your first semester! Congrats to Cathy Espinoza in completing her first semester at Palomar College.

AIR Program Director Accepts KPBS/Union Bank Local Heroes Honor on behalf of AIR Programs Dwight Lomayesva (Executive Director) was honored in receiving the KPBS/Union Bank Local Heroes Award for Native American Heritage Month, 2010. "I am truly honored to receive this award. Working in Community Service programs, it is rare that anyone recognizes the work that one does to help our youth, so it is an honor to receive this award but this award really represents an award for all our mentors who contributed and worked with our students so that they may have a greater future. Our program is very fortunate that we have had so many inspiring mentors within our program. It is because of their efforts I still become inspired to continue to work with the same motivation of when our program started. So this honor is really for them as they are the foundation of our program. Thank you to our great mentors both present and past as they are the Local Heroes for our community." Link to KPBS Video

UCSD Chancellor Fox and Vice Chancellor Mathews welcomes AIR Programs at UCSD The AIR Program is truly honored that the Chancellor of the University of California San Diego and the Vice Chancellor, came to welcome our students on the campus of UCSD. We cannot express the gratitude we have for their care in extending their welcome to our students and to our Native community.
Administration for Native Americans inlcudes AIR Program in Congressional Reports ANA is pleased to anounce the inclusion of AIR's Pride for Life Project within "Fiscal Year 2008 Report to Congress on Impact and Effectiveness of Administration for Native American Projects" ANA is pleased to anounce the inclusion of AIR's Voices of Tomorrow Project within "Fiscal Year 2009 Report to Congress on Impact and Effectiveness of Administration for Native American Projects"