Dear Friend,

You and I have a lot to celebrate this year. Each year, we celebrate the graduation of another class of students from the schools that you make possible because of your love for the Indian children served by St. Labre.

What makes this year even more special is that, for the first time in St. Labre’s history, 100% of the graduating class has been accepted to a college, university or technical school. There are very few schools in this country that can make that claim.

The 2010 graduating class.

For many of our students, the cost of a college education is out of reach. That’s where the St. Labre Scholarship Program comes in. Please read more about this program and how you can help.

In addition to academics, St. Labre is also active in helping to keep the beautiful Indian culture alive whether it is teaching the history, languages, and traditional crafts such as beadwork of the two tribes that we serve.

There’s even more good news: The emergency generators have been installed and are fully operational so the next time the power goes out in the middle of a cold Montana winter, we will be ready.

Additionally, we will begin construction on the new student dormitory this summer. We still need some additional funds to complete the project, but, as we have done so many times in the past, we once again have stepped out in faith, trusting in God and our wonderful donors who always come through for the children. If you would like to make a donation to help complete this project, please contact us.

Finally, if you are in the area this summer, please put St. Labre on your list of places to visit. We would love to have you see firsthand this miracle that you make possible.

It's not often you meet a young person who lives the kind of life Sierra does, even in a remote area of Montana. Sierra lives in the family home up Muddy Creek in the Wolf Mountains. The home has no electrical connection to the outside but has solar panels which provide some energy. In a pinch, Sierra's dad, Hymn (pronounced Hime) has a generator he hooks up for various needs.

The family's homestead is mostly self-sustaining, with two large gardens and an abundance of wild berry bushes nearby.

In tough winters and when the Muddy Creek Road is impassable, the family simply stays home. For Sierra, it has been a blessing. And it is one reason she is thinking about majoring in environmental science when she begins college this fall at Montana State University-Bozeman.

“Because of the way I have grown up,” Sierra observes, “I believe I have something to contribute to the field of environmental science. My parents have always made sure we take good care of our land.”

Who could argue with that kind of reasoning?

Sierra should have lots of personal anecdotes and environmental knowledge to contribute to her college classes. Imagine how startled her classmates will be when they learn she grew up without a television in her home!

She has greatly enjoyed her education at St. Labre. Her most recent favorite class was statistics, (dual credit high school and college) taught by Mr. Ed Sisolak.

“He taught as though it were a college class,” she says. “Now I kind of know what to expect from college teachers.”

She is also excited about the St. Labre Mentoring Program as well because the mentor, Dave Charpentier, will be visiting her campus on a regular basis to guide and support her and other students as they become accustomed to the college routine.

“Overall,” says Sierra, “St. Labre has provided me a very good education.”

We extend our best wishes to Sierra, as she begins the next phase of her educational journey. We trust it will be as interesting and unique as the one she is just finishing.

Editor´s Note: If you would like more information about funding scholarships, call the Planned Giving Department toll-free at 1-866-652-0959.

There’s no better time than right now as you are reading about our graduates, both high school and college, to think about funding a scholarship. The scholarship program at St. Labre is named after Father Emmett Hoffmann whom many of you remember as the leader who secured funding not only to keep the school open back in the 1950s but also to modernize the campus.

This is an endowed scholarship fund, meaning that only the earnings from principal can be spent. Within this scholarship fund, there is ample opportunity for you to contribute. You may also have a customized scholarship named after you or someone you designate. These begin at $25,000. We will work with you however you wish to make certain your scholarship accomplishes your goals.

Scholarship recipients.

Ten years ago few students were accessing the Father Emmett Hoffmann Scholarship Fund, in fact, fewer than a dozen each year. Since that time there has been explosive growth in those numbers. This past academic year, for example, 75 students were receiving help from the scholarship fund.

The scholarship principal has not reached a sufficient level as yet to accommodate all the needs, so scholarships are subsidized from St. Labre’s general operating fund. Although we have been fortunate to be able to do this, continuing to do so in the future may not always be possible as general campus needs continue to demand attention and more funds.

If you would like more information about funding scholarships, call the planned giving department toll-free at 1-866-652-0959.

For the first time St. Labre will be honoring two students as salutatorians for the 2010 graduating class. Lacey and Mikayla.

Lacey hails from Lodge Grass on the Crow Indian Reservation, about 100 miles southwest of St. Labre Indian School. Because of the distance, Lacey has been a dorm student during her sojourn at St. Labre, but, in her view, that hasn't been a bad experience. “In addition to all the help my teachers gave me, Jesuit Volunteers were on duty during evenings at the dorm, and they helped me with my homework. Overall, I really learned a lot here at St. Labre.”

For this year, Lacey has enjoyed her statistics class and also her beading class. Her beading projects have included a pair of moccasins and a beaded turtle. Lacey was a member of the St. Labre cheerleading squad and also likes to do anything connected to the outdoors. Additionally, she enjoys spending time with her grandmother, who tells her stories of times gone by on the Crow Indian Reservation.

Although she hasn't determined what branch of nursing she would like to pursue, Lacey feels ready to move on and begin this next phase of her life. We already know one thing about her MSU experience: after enduring the outdated St. Labre dormitory, her college dorm will be a welcome change. We celebrate Lacey's achievements and hard work and wish her a bright future.

As co-salutatorian for the St. Labre Graduating Class of 2010, Mikayla makes no bones about it: “There were people,” she states, “who didn't think I would make it this far in my education. Being salutatorian means a lot to me and my family, and I have my teachers to thank. They have all been very helpful, always there after school when I needed extra help.”

Salutatorian Mikayla.

In spite of some of her challenges during the past academic year, Mikayla has demonstrated initiative and tenacity in order to be ready for college this fall at Montana State University-Billings, where she plans to major in nursing. Her goal is to become a registered nurse and, ultimately, an RN Family Practitioner.

And that's not too difficult to understand since family is important to Mikayla. She grew up with four brothers and three sisters and simply loves the feeling of being a part of a large family.

To get a head start on her nursing classes, she will be working at the local Indian Health Service Clinic during the summer as an intern. And in her spare time she will probably shoot some hoops with her siblings, since she played basketball and volleyball for St. Labre for three years.

In looking back over her time at St. Labre, Mikayla points to a former science teacher, Mr. Andres, who instilled a love of everything science in her. Mr. Andres really helped me get a good foundation in science, she reminisces. “I'll always remember him as my favorite teacher while I was here.”

For a young woman who wants a career in a helping profession, nursing seems perfectly suited to Mikayla, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.

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.”

To this title could be added snow, blizzards, floods, hail storms, ad infinitum. These new generators will take care of all the needs on the campus.

To back up: in the spring of 2009, an electrical switch failed in the electrical grid and plunged St. Labre into a dark, cold twilight. To make matters worse, the entire sewer and water systems were dependent on adequate electricity, and the failing generators were useless. The two hundred plus residents of St. Labre were facing a complete evacuation.

For four days, school was canceled and residents were holding their collective breaths wondering if they would have to leave en masse. The switch arrived and the day was saved; however, it became clear that the 1960s vintage generators had served their purpose. They had to be replaced. In spite of economic uncertainties, you opened your hearts and your wallets to help meet this critical need.

The new generators have wonderful capabilities. They will even compensate for power ebbs and flows to keep the right amount of wattage coursing through the St. Labre electrical grid.

With Montana’s unpredictable weather, one can never know when the generators will come into play. Because of your generosity and caring spirit, be assured when the lights go off, the generators will kick in, and all will continue to be “light” in our kids’ world.

After several years of declining or static gift annuity rates, the American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA) has recommended a rate increase effective July 1, 2010. It isn’t much, but it does signal a move in a positive direction, a development we’ve been hoping to see for quite some time.

As you know, St. Labre follows the recommendations of the ACGA because the Council researches diligently to make sure rates reflect the realities in the economy and current actuarial calculations. In its recent statement about the 2010 rate change, the Council said, “Its (the Council) suggested rates have long been recognized, not only by charities and donors but also by state insurance departments and the Internal Revenue Service, as being actuarially sound and in the best interests of all parties involved.”

If you are 72 years old, and fund an annuity for $2,500, your rate of return would be 6%. Your immediate tax deduction would be $1,014.25, almost half of the value of the annuity. Your annual annuity would be $150 and the tax-free portion of that over the next 14.5 years would be $102.45. The taxable amount each year would only be $47.55. The best part is that you would receive this income for the remainder of your life.

How can you go wrong? A lifetime income most of which is tax free, a substantial immediate tax deduction, and best of all the satisfaction you receive from knowing you are helping hundreds of Native American children obtain a quality education.

St. Labre Legacy Society
The St. Labre Legacy Society is now a reality. The only qualification for membership is that you remember St. Labre in your estate plans. This is a step an increasing number of our benefactors are taking because they have a vision and a commitment to help ensure a bright future for generations of deserving, Native American children to come.

You may mark the box by Legacy Society on the flap on page 2 and return it to the planned giving department to receive a free Legacy Society brochure, or call us at the toll-free number at the end of this article for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.

Estate Planning
Are you ready for the many changes coming to the tax structure over the next year and a half? The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, which provided many tax cuts throughout the past ten years, is scheduled to expire in 2011. With continued economic uncertainty and a federal deficit in the trillions, lawmakers will be looking for new sources of revenue as they prepare the next set of tax regulations.

Fortunately, current charitable giving options can provide you with tax relief, especially if you are facing a large tax liability, such as can happen with the sale of a business or property other than your primary residence.

The St. Labre Planned Giving Department is ready to assist you with your estate and tax questions. Although we don’t dispense financial advice per se, we can visit with you about gift annuities and trusts of various types, which could alleviate tax problems, save you money, help support the mission of St. Labre and, certainly, bless the children for whom we care so much.

Call the planned giving office toll-free at 1-866-652-0959 to learn more about giving options and for a no-obligation projection on a gift annuity. Or check the items which interest you on the flap on page 2 and mail it back to us. Be sure to fill in your contact information.

The Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, is well-known for its fine Native American arts and crafts. Winning an award there is evidence of one’s extraordinary talent.

For St. Labre freshman, Michael, winning awards and then selling his prized beaded cradle board was unprecedented. But in his shy, unassuming manner, he really didn’t have much to say about his entry taking First Place, Judge’s Choice, Best of Division and Best of Show.

“I enjoy beading,” he says, “and Mr. Franquelin has really helped me learn how to do it.” That would be an understatement, considering that Michael just began beading last year as an eighth grader. He was so proud of his cradle board he balked at putting it up for sale. However, the rules of the show were clear: any piece of art to be judged had to go up for sale.

Michael’s intricate beadwork is demonstrated in his prize winning cradle board.

Mr. Franquelin suggested Michael put a high price on his cradle board so no one would buy it. Apparently the price wasn’t high enough because a collector snapped it up almost immediately. While the price has not been disclosed, one staff member said it would give Michael a great start on his college fund.

When asked if he would be making another cradle board, Michael nodded his head yes. When further prompted if this one would be for sale, his answer was an emphatic, “NO!”

For now that’s the way things stand: Michael’s creations are not for sale. But that, in no way, diminishes his accomplishment and the pride we all feel for him. We congratulate Michael on his extraordinary honor!