Karl Little Owl made history on Sunday, May 16, when he became the first American Crow Indian to graduate in the 202-year history of Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburgh, Maryland. The lead-up to this achievement is almost as interesting as the achievement itself. In January, 2006, Dr. Thomas Powell, President of Mount St. Mary’s University made four scholarships in the amount of $15,000 each available to graduates of St. Labre Indian School.

That May he traveled to Montana and awarded Karl Little Owl the first of these scholarships, and in August, Karl, his wife Shannon and their daughter Shelby loaded their earthly possessions into a U-Haul truck and headed to Maryland, away from family, friends, and their culture and language.

The Mount St. Mary’s family accepted them with open arms and hearts. Before too many weeks had passed, Karl was giving talks in classes on his Crow culture and being invited into surrounding communities and schools to do the same, and maintained his 3.0 average while working as a counselor in Mount’s Center for Student Diversity.

Graduation day was truly a family affair, as Karl’s family members traveled from Montana to celebrate with him.

His grandfather, Clayton Old Elk, spoke about the great honor this is, not only for Karl, but for the Crow people and Native people everywhere. “When one of our own has achieved such great success,” he said, “it is success for all of us.”

In speaking of his achievements, Karl humbly observed, “I now have credentials, which will allow me to do higher quality work and be of greater service wherever my path leads me. This is a very exciting moment for me, but also for St. Labre and for Mount St. Mary’s. The support from both schools has been incredible.”

A contingent of St. Labre donors attended graduation. One of them, Norm Boehm, summed up the day this way, “Karl deserves praise and commendation for his hard work. He is a fine young man, and my wife and I wish him the very best.”