| Building
bridges has been the focus of Sara Young's, '87
M, professional life. An enrolled member of the Crow tribe,
she is the driving force for three major programs that
engage American Indian students in research at Montana
State University. |
| For
that work, Young, '87 M, was selected as one of 10 individuals
to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science,
Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) at ceremonies
in Washington D.C. recently. |
| "Sara
is recognized at all levels as a true catalyst for MSU's
successful mentoring programs for American Indian students,"
said Jim McMillan, dean of the MSU College of Letters
and Science. "Her role in these efforts does not fit the
mold of a traditional mentor, but the efforts of our faculty
members would not be nearly as effective without her leadership.
She truly has made a difference in the lives and careers
of a large number of students." |
| Young
is currently the director of the American Indian Research
Opportunities (AIRO) program at MSU and guides the MSU
research mentoring programs of the Montana Apprenticeship
Program (MAP), the Initiative for Minority Student Development
(IMSD) Program, and Leadership Alliance. She also provides
mentoring for American Indian students participating in
the Montana Biomedical Research Network's Summer Undergraduate
Research Program (SURP) and collaborates with other programs
who have American Indian students in their summer and
academic year research internships such as the Messengers
for Healing program and the Bridging Tribal College Students
to MSU (BRIDGES) and the Caring for Our Own Program (COOP).
|
| "Sara
has used her understanding of the group dynamics of Indian
students to develop an innovative strategy for motivating
Indian students," McMillan said. "She pushes the system
to shape the programs to meet the need of her students,
rather than shape the students to fit into a program."
|
| Young's
role in the mentoring process has been to identify students
who have the desire and potential to successfully participate
in a research program; identify and encourage faculty
members to be mentors for the students; and develop activities
outside of the research arena which supplement the students'
laboratory experiences and help remedy any problems that
might arise along the way. |
| "Mentoring
makes a significant impact on students," Young said. "I'd
like to see mentoring programs established in all colleges
at MSU." |
| Young
is constantly on the road, commuting from Bozeman to her
home in Lame Deer and traveling throughout Montana doing
outreach work in reservation communities and the tribal
colleges. "We want the reservation communities to know
that MSU will provide a welcoming environment for their
young people," she said. |
|
The PAESMEM Award is administered and funded through the
National Science Foundation and goes to people and institutions
who work with students in K-12, undergraduate or graduate
level education. Young will receive a $10,000 grant to
go toward continuing mentoring activities at MSU. The
mentoring awards have been given annually since 1996.
|
