Kylee, the 2026 Salutatorian, says she's just a "chill guy," even though she's a woman. A "guy" these days, according to youth culture, can be a boy or a girl, but the key word is "chill." And that doesn't mean putting food in the refrigerator to cool it. The best way to describe it in the vernacular is a person who can accept life without getting too nervous or upset.

In talking to Kylee, though, I learned she has accomplished a lot since she began at St. Labre High School four years ago. She's a member of the National Honor Society and also the Art National Honor Society. She's also played on the girls' basketball team this year, and she has two colleges in mind for this fall: Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and the University of Montana in Missoula. Doesn't sound like she's too chill. At this point, she's leaning toward UM because it's closer to home.

Home is in Lodge Grass on the Crow Indian Reservation. She enjoys living there because "there's lots of places to hike and to go fishing." She plans to enjoy those hikes and fishing trips this coming summer because she has already qualified for a St. Labre scholarship, allowing her to attend college wherever she chooses. And she will be at Crow Fair in late August enjoying time with her friends before they go their separate ways.

She has an older sister who is going to Little Big Horn College and a younger brother. Education, obviously, is an important component in this family.

"The teachers here have been very helpful."

As for St. Labre, she has enjoyed the diversity-going to school with Northern Cheyenne classmates. She believes this provides a good rounding out of her education here. As for the campus, she really likes the shape of the church, which is patterned after the Plains Indian teepee.

Academically, she has enjoyed her Algebra Il class and her English class. "The teachers here have been very helpful," she says.

As for a college major, she is leaning towards a business degree. But, as she says, she's just a "chill guy," and things will unfold the way they are supposed to. Apparently, as a member of the National Honor Society and the salutatorian for the Class of 2026, she doesn't chill too much.

Our best to Kylee as she enters the adult world of higher education.