This past weekend provided eight Sun Devil student-athletes with a unique and rewarding experience as they traveled to Ft. Apache, Arizona, as part of Arizona State University’s Tribal Nations Tour (TNT).
Developed by ASU’s Office of American Indian Initiatives, the TNT program was created to benefit American Indian students in Arizona tribal communities by encouraging academic readiness, increasing college exposure, building student self-confidence, promoting admissions and financial aid literacy.
This is the third consecutive year that Sun Devil Athletics has had a presence in the initiative as student-athletes and staff have joined to add a wellness component and participate in service projects while at the same time learning about Native cultures.
Sun Devil student-athletes Jack Balder (cross country), Jesse Calderon (wrestling), Ayanna Edwards (women’s basketball), Whitney Follette (volleyball), Ryan Herson (cross country), Alexandra Osborne (tennis), Allie Sallas (gymnastics) and Daniel Wong (cross country) joined American Indian students from ASU on the two-day trip to the White Mountain Apache Reservation.
After arriving early Friday afternoon the student-athletes teamed up to put on a sports camp for the local Boys & Girls Club. Nearly 100 children participated as they rotated stations to learn the basics of basketball, running, soccer and volleyball.
“Anytime you get an opportunity to give back to the community it is always rewarding,” Herson said. “Getting the chance to go up to the White Mountain Apache Nation and see the support for Arizona State and our athletics is something you don't experience everyday. The children were fun to work with and had so much energy.”
Added Follette, “It was so rewarding to see the kids smile and laugh and have a ton of fun with us. We as a Sun Devil family were able to just be ourselves and do what we love to do while sharing it with a group of appreciative kids.”
At the conclusion of the camp each of the Sun Devil student-athletes and the ASU Native American students addressed the kids with their own stories about how they ended up at ASU and stressed the importance of education and the world of possibilities that go with it.
“For our student-athletes, it means a lot to be able to reach out to the kids and talk about the importance of higher education and instill in them the belief that someday they will have the opportunity to attend college,” said ASU associate athletic director Bill Kennedy, who works with the Office of American Indian Initiatives in coordinating the trip.
Shortly after the camp finished, it was time for a traditional Apache dinner, which included a performance by one of the Tribe’s younger members. The evening’s activities concluded with a talk from a medicine man (one of his four degrees was earned from ASU), who gave the group insight into the Apache Sunrise Ceremony it would attend the following morning.
The group would team up again on Saturday for a beautification project at a local recreation area as it worked on both a baseball field and a basketball court.
“Through events like cleaning the community recreation fields and sharing our love and experience of our sports with the kids, we were able to connect with the community,” said Wong, who was a part of the TNT trip for the third straight year. “Their willingness to share their culture further imprinted their close-knit community upon us. Being welcomed wholeheartedly into their culture reminded me of how fortunate I am to be a Sun Devil.”
After finishing at the recreation area, everyone had the opportunity to delight in homemade Indian Tacos that were prepared by one of the local families as a token of appreciation.
“The group that we worked with was very hospitable and made our experience memorable,” said Follette. “I am so thankful for Sun Devil Athletics and the Tribal Nation Tours that gave us the opportunity to give back and also learn a lot from the White Mountain Apache Tribe.”