Culturally-informed college tours with Native students in Port Angeles

At the beginning of the school year, College Success Foundation advisors Paul Kelly, Andrea Dusenko and Martin Quarto set forth on developing a four-college campus tour respectfully prepared for Native students attending Port Angeles High School––located on the rural peninsula of Washington state in CSF’s NW Coastal service region. In partnership with Wendy Sampson, the Klallam language teacher and a history teacher at Port Angeles High School, and Jen Mobley, the Native American student advocate at Port Angeles Schools, students embarked on their first tour of Peninsula College and then to University of Washington. The group also toured The Evergreen State College and later, the Northwest Indian College. Each visit was a day-long excursion complete with special programming and tours geared toward Native students.

“The colleges were intentionally chosen for the tour because of their size, location and culturally-informed support and programming available to Native students,” explained Paul. “When we visited Peninsula College, the presentation in the longhouse was given by a college student in the welding program. He was a member of the Makah tribe and happened to be related to several students on the tour. It was incredibly impactful for the students to see someone like them being successful at college.”

Making a campus feel like home

Creating a home and a community away from your home and your community is crucial when welcoming Native students onto campus. Peninsula College, University of Washington, The Evergreen State College all have longhouses situated on their campuses. Longhouses are typically long and narrow in shape, with a large open space for communal and ceremonial gatherings for Native communities and tribes. For Native college students, longhouses can serve as a familiar reminder of home and tribal culture and send a visual message of belonging on campus.

“The tours have been an amazing opportunity for many of our tribal students to see what these colleges have, including tribal education programs, scholarships and even buildings like longhouses that host multiple native-focused events throughout the year,” observed Wendy.

I myself was inspired to attend UW after I took a tour when I was a 9th grader at Port Angeles High School. I’m glad to be a part of sowing the seeds of college dreams into these students’ minds that will hopefully bloom into them following a path of higher education. My daughter now wants to attend Northwest Indian College.

Wendy Sampson, Klallam language teacher and a history teacher at Port Angeles High School

Keeping Native language and culture alive in Port Angeles

Port Angeles Schools are located on the ancestral lands of the Klallam Nations and they serve Native students from all over the country as well as eight local tribes including Lower Elwha Klallam, Jamestown S’Klallam, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Skokomish, Quinault, Hoh, Quileute, and Makah.

Beginning with local Head Start programs up through high school, students in Port Angeles celebrate and learn about tribal languages and cultures. In middle school and high school, students are offered Klallam language classes––developed by the Lower Ehlwa Klallam Tribe–––which can fulfill WA state’s world language graduation requirement. Students can also take a Native American Studies class that can fulfill another graduation requirement.

Wendy, who teaches the Klallam 1, 2, and 3 language classes at Port Angeles High School is excited about the growth the program is experiencing: “I currently have 20 students. Next year, I expect to add an additional 26 students.”

Invisible barriers for rural students

Living in a rural community has its benefits. Being a trusted member of a close-knit community and experiencing a more relaxed way of life are just a few. However, the additional distance between home and school can create an invisible education barrier for rural students. Before-or-after-school meet-ups or activities are a challenge for students beholden to a school bus schedule.

That’s why connections between CSF advisors and students are made primarily during school hours. “Our office at school is a place for students to take a little time out, grab a snack, chat about what’s going on,” describes Paul.

It’s all about being available and being an ally to our Native students.

Paul Kelly, CSF advisor at Port Angeles High School

The importance of focusing on Native students

In 2022, the overall high school graduation rate for students in Washington state was 82%.* For Native American students, the high school graduation rate was 68%––a 14% difference and the largest disparity among ethnic and racial groups.*

While Native students have experienced a tremendous increase in high school graduation rates in our state over the last decade––from 53% in 2013 to 68% in 2022*––more work needs to be done to bring up high school graduation, college-going and college graduation rates among Native students.

CSF serves underrepresented students in middle school, high school and college settings and will continue to meet students where they are as we support them to find the college with the best fit for them. Our approach is to not only serve our mission population of underserved students, but also support all students at our partner schools in finding their post-secondary path of best fit. Toward that end, on May 31, CSF will join with Port Angeles High School to put on a Senior Celebration event to honor all of the 12th-graders who are graduating this year.

A special thank you to our partners at Port Angeles High School, Peninsula College, The Evergreen State College, University of Washington and Northwest Indian College for helping to make this customized series of college tours possible! 

*https://results.wa.gov/sites/default/files/HighSchoolGraduationRatesPPR_022223.pdf