Ron LaFrance Memorial Leadership Award
This award recognizes an Indigenous undergraduate who displays leadership, persistence, and fortitude in achieving academic goals and serving Indigenous communities. The award honors the memory of Ron LaFrance, Ph.D., a Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Leader and the former Director of the American Indian Program (1981-1993). Dr. LaFrance was instrumental in establishing the Akwe:kon Residential Program House in 1991.
Awardee: Kalin Miles
Kalin has shown fortitude, leadership, and initiative in his leadership within the Indigenous community at Cornell. As the secretary of Native American and Indigenous Students At Cornell, he goes above and beyond the requirements for the position. He increased awareness of the NAISAC organization by writing, filming, and submitting a video introducing the organization to prospective students. The video will be shown to prospective Indigenous students staying on campus through the CUImage program. He has supported programming within the NAISAC organization centered around community building and academic outreach throughout the academic year well beyond the scope of his responsibilities as secretary. He’s basically acted as a third co-chair for the organization. He’s helped mentor incoming freshmen through the NAIMP. As a resident of the Akwe:kon Program House he’s helped build up the Indigenous community within the house, by showing fellow residents around campus and encouraging engagement with Akwe:kon programming. He’s an inspiring young leader who will continue to advocate for Indigenous students throughout the rest of his Cornell career.
Awardee: Paula Blanco Ortiz
Paula is a force to be reckoned with. She currently serves as the external relation chair for NAISAC as a freshman. This position comes with a massive amount of responsibility and labor, but Paula has performed above and beyond expectations that anyone else in the organization had. She has ensured accountability from the other members of the organization, and pushed everyone to do better in programming, organizational skills, and outreach. She’s supported AIISP programming and outreach through phone banking with prospective Indigenous students, and serving as a student-employee. She’s currently running for Student Assembly in order to bring more Indigenous representation to the table, and to advocate for Indigenous student issues. Without a doubt she is one of the most hardworking members of NAISAC, and no one deserves this more than she does. Paula is finishing her freshman year as an Environment and Sustainability major in CALS.
