PNW-COSMOS Promoting STEM Education and Mentoring Indigenous Students for the Future Building graduate student- mentor relationships through: * Cultural awareness; * Mentor-Mentee activities; * Mentor training. pnwcosmos.org K'Dyn Newbrough LAKOTA, CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE Black Hills State University PRE-DENTAL HYGIENE COURTESY OF K'DYN NEWBROUGH I grew up in Eagle Butte, a small town on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota. I'm Lakota from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. My home consisted of my parents, four siblings, many cousins, and friends. My parents have huge hearts and always welcomed children into our home. My immediate family has always encouraged me to be the best that I could be and has had a strong influence on my long-term goals. My parents have told me to consider doing what will make me happy in the end. aises.org When I chose to study pre-dental hygiene at Black Hills State University (BHSU), I felt good about the decision. I became interested after seeing how hard it was for people on the reservation to get an appointment for regular checkups and cleanings with the Indian Health Service (IHS). At the time, IHS had only one dental hygienist. Now they have two, but it still takes a few weeks to schedule an appointment, which leads some people to neglect their teeth. Another contributing factor in my decision to pursue dental hygiene is the ยป 2017-2018 SPECIAL COLLEGE ISSUE * WINDS OF CHANGE 9http://www.pnwcosmos.org http://www.aises.org