Educators receive honorary doctorates

By Journal staff | Saturday, May 03, 2008

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BROOKINGS - South Dakota State University will present two honorary doctorates at its Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 3.

The awards will be given to associate professor emeritus of education and counseling Lowell Amiotte and Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, a noted published author and educator.

Amiotte will receive an honorary doctor of public service for his dedication to higher education.

Amiotte was on the SDSU faculty for 11 years, and during that time he co-founded the annual Oak Lake Tribal Writers' Retreat and the SDSU American Indian History and Culture Conference. Before coming to SDSU, he was president of Oglala Lakota College in Kyle, one of the first tribal colleges in the nation.

Professor of education and longtime acquaintance R. L. Erion suggested that Amiotte "may be one of the most gifted administrators I've ever known."

During his years of service to education in South Dakota, Amiotte served as director of Indian Education for the Rapid City Public Schools, director for the Center of Indian Studies at Black Hills State University; director for American Indian Higher Education, president of the National Indian Education Association and president of the South Dakota Indian Association.

"Mr. Amiotte has made unsurpassed contributions to education in South Dakota and has provided a bridge of invaluable dimension between the American Indian cultures and non-Indian society," provost and vice president for ccademics Carol J. Peterson said.

"He just does a wonderful job of helping people find reasons to be better people," Erion said.

Driving Hawk Sneve will be awarded a doctor of humane letters.

After completion of her formal education, Driving Hawk Sneve spent 40 years as a teacher and counselor in the South Dakota public school system as well as at Flandreau Indian School and Oglala Lakota College. During that time, she began publishing books for children and young adults with stories set in Lakota culture.

SDSU English professor Kathleen Danker has used Driving Hawk Sneve's books in her graduate seminars as well as in juvenile fiction classes.

"I think she is an accomplished author who has made a real contribution to South Dakota literature, both for adults and children," Danker said.

Driving Hawk Sneve has also written nonfiction narratives including a memoir of growing up on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

"Ms. Driving Hawk Sneve has broken down stereotypes of Native Americans for children and adults, highlighting their rich histories and traditions, and so it is appropriate that her alma mater recognize that with this recognition" Peterson said.

Others who have made note of her impact include President Bill Clinton, who presented her with a National Humanities Medal. Other awards she has received include the National Woman of Achievement, the Spirit of Crazy Horse Award and the South Dakota Education Association Human Services Award.

To watch online

The South Dakota State University spring undergraduate commencement ceremonies will be streamed in video on the university's Web site at www.sdstate.edu. A highlighted link to the event on the Web site will go live at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 3