photo by: Mike Yoder

Haskell Indian Nations University graduates complete their graduation ceremonies Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

The powerful beating of drums kicked off the 2019 commencement ceremony at Haskell Indian Nations University.

About 150 graduates receiving bachelor’s and associate degrees processed into Coffin Sports Complex Friday morning, along with Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney, Haskell’s Acting President Monte Monteith, members of the Haskell National Board of Regents and faculty.

Sweeney, the first Alaska native and second woman ever to be confirmed to the position within the U.S. Department of the Interior, began the keynote address reciting a series of about 20 hashtags that summarized her message for the morning, including #HonorOurAncestors, #LifeChoices, #EnjoyTheMoment, #DontBeASlaveToViolence, #Empowerment and more.

“I believe there are a fair number of you who understood my message perfectly,” Sweeney said. However, she quickly reminded the audience, “there is more to life than hashtags.”

Spring 2019 Commencement

Sweeney urged the graduates to slow down, quoting the first lines of Simon and Garfunkel’s “The 59th Street Bridge Song.”

“‘Slow down, you move too fast; you got to make the morning last,'” Sweeney said, quoting the song. “Slow down and find life between the hashtags.”

Sweeney acknowledged that Native students walk in two worlds. She urged them to remember the ancestors who blazed trails and honor them.

“Be the leader they fought for you to become,” Sweeney said. “Continue the pilgrimage of our people, and be bridge builders.”

Sweeney left the graduates with the hashtag “#OnwardHaskell.”

photo by: Mike Yoder

From left, Haskell Indian Nations University commencement keynote speaker and Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney, Haskell Board of Regents President Brandon Yellowbird-Stevens, and University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod participate in graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

Prior to commencement Deron SunEagle, a senior from Corpus Christi, Texas, stood waiting to line up before walking across campus to the sports complex. He had added personal touches to his robe with patches of both the Haskell chief logo and the University of Kansas Jayhawk. He also added an eagle feather attached to the tassel on his mortarboard along with KU letters. SunEagle received a degree in business administration from Haskell and also studied acting at KU through the universities’ Bridge Program. He explained that the program allows students at both Haskell and KU to take certain classes while remaining a student at their home campus.

While some graduates might have faced challenges on the path to receiving a degree, several of the guests in the audience faced a few obstacles just getting to Lawrence for commencement.

Elgin, Okla. residents Cheryl and Tim Turner, parents of graduates Mary and Velma Turner, said a portion of I-35 was closed south of Wichita. The detour added several hours to their trip, but they said they were determined to be there for their daughters.

Haskell alumnus Claude Sumner, of Okmulgee, Okla., said he wasn’t about to miss graduation even after a bad storm blew over a tree that smashed his carport into the roof of his car.

“I had to rent a car to get here,” Sumner said.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A Haskell Indian Nations University graduate waits in the processional line prior to graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Two Haskell Indian Nations University graduates wait to line up for the processional prior to graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A Haskell Indian Nations University graduate waits in the processional line prior to graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Haskell Indian Nations University graduates walk in the commencement processional during graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Friends and family watch as Haskell Indian Nations University graduates walk in the commencement processional during graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Haskell Indian Nations University graduates in Environmental Science take a group photo during graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Haskell Indian Nations University graduates walk in the commencement processional during graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Members of the Haskell Indian Nations University Alaska Club dance during graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU and in honor of Alaska native keynote speaker Tara Sweeney, the assistant secretary at the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A Haskell Indian Nations University graduate participates in graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Haskell Indian Nations University student of the year RaeLynn King is wrapped in a blanket by master of ceremonies Stephen Prue, left and interim Haskell president Monte Monteith, right, during graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

An audience member snaps photographs during Haskell Indian Nations University graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Lauren J. Two Crow, right, receives a blanket and a hug from her grandmother after Two Crow received her diploma at Haskell Indian Nations University graduation ceremony Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A Haskell Indian Nations University graduate holds up a diploma for a photograph during graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Friends and family watch as Haskell Indian Nations University graduates walk in the commencement processional during graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Sydney Rose Gabbard and her daughter, Cree Rose, 4, walk across the stage to receive Gabbard’s diploma during Haskell Indian Nations University graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Macaulay Logan Brown, who graduated cum laude from Haskell Indian Nations, receives a wreath for his neck from his sister during graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Haskell Indian Nations University graduates celebrate while singing the school song at the completion of graduation activities Friday, May 10, 2019, at HINU.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Juwan K. Tawyesva celebrates as he walks across the stage for his diploma Friday, May 10, 2019, during graduation activities at Haskell Indian Nations University.