Amber Jade - Class of 2014
Amber Jade, Class of 2014

My name is Amber Jade and I have been at St. Joseph’s Indian School since I was in the second grade, so for 10 years. During middle school I was involved in volleyball, cheerleading, and basketball. In high school, I was involved in Native American Club and was a manager of the football team my senior year.

I have a lot of good memories from being in the Afra home with Michael and Brenda, and going up to the Hogebach home with Robb and Cheryl — I don’t think I can just pick one to be my favorite! My sixth grade year with Ryan, Lisa, Frank, and Wanda was one of the best years ever. I could think of so many more memories that year, but I also know all my years in the Hogebach Home are unforgettable.

After high school, I plan on moving to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and attending Stewart School to study cosmetology. All my houseparents, teachers, and counselors I had over the years at St. Joseph’s deserve a BIG thank you... especially Robb & Cheryl (and Eya the dog). I grew so close to them and they’ve helped me with so much with a lot of things, I don’t know what I’ll do without them. It will be hard but I know they’ll always be there.

The advice I would give to younger students is:

  • Keep up with your work and school will be easy.
  • Join as many activities and sports as you can.

Ashley Carmen - Class of 2014
Ashley Carmen, Class of 2014

My name is Ashley Carmen and I have been attending St. Joseph’s since my seventh grade year. I played basketball my sophomore year, I was a manager of the football team my senior year and I have been in Native American Club throughout my high school career.

My favorite memory of St. Joe’s would be when I went to Germany my junior summer. I plan to attend the University of Minnesota—Morris, and major in Veterinary Studies.

I would like to thank all my house parents, teachers, counselors, and other staff who have helped me throughout my time at St. Joseph’s Indian School.

My advice to younger students would be:

  • Take school seriously — I wish I could redo my freshman year and sophomore years. Later when you’re a senior it will matter to you.
  • Hogebach Home is the best home on campus.
  • Take driver’s ed your freshman summer so you could start driving right away (I didn’t take mine until my junior summer and I didn’t like waiting!).

Cody - Class of 2014
Cody, Class of 2014

My name is Cody and I have been going to St Joes for 10 years. I’ve mainly been in softball and basketball during high school. My favorite memory is just hanging out with the boys in the Sheehy Home.

My plans for the future are to attend South Dakota State University and major in Physical Education. I was to give a big thank you to Sue K, my junior high houseparent, for keeping me strong and to my mom. Also, Mike and April for helping me “take care of my bidness.”

My advice to younger students is:

  • Start thinking about what you want to do now because it gets easier from that step.
  • Have fun and get active in the community.
  • Don’t be stuck in a shell! Break it and leave it behind you. It helps in everything you do.

Dean - Class of 2014
Dean, Class of 2014

Hello, my name is Dean. I am enrolled in the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and I am from Soldier Creek, South Dakota. I have been attending St. Joseph’s since the fifth grade. I was on the St. Joe’s basketball teams in my junior high years, but was only on the Chamberlain basketball team my freshman year.

I have had a lot of fun while at St. Joe’s. My favorite memories are every time we went on a home trip.

My plans for the future are to attend Western Dakota Technical Institute for Law Enforcement in Rapid City, South Dakota. I would like to thank all if my houseparents, especially Dick and Carol and Mike and April. I would also like to thank my counselor Scott and his wife LaRayne, and all of the staff that have been a part of my life here at St. Joe’s.

My advice to younger kids is:

  • Pay attention in school and get ALL of your homework done on time.

Thank You St. Joseph’s Indian School for all you have done for me!


Errol Allan - Class of 2014 Errol Allan, Class of 2014

My name is Errol Allan and I have been at St. Joseph’s since third grade, which makes about 9 years.

The only sport I played was basketball for two years, my sophomore and junior years.

One memory I will always remember happened when I was in sixth grade in the Rooney Home. My houseparent at the time Tony decided to play a prank on us. He stuck his phone under a bed with a bear growl as the ringer. It more sounded like whispers in the room so it sounded like ghost. We were all just trembling and scared, but it was so funny when Tony told us what it was.

I plan to attend the University of South Dakota and major in Human Biology with a career in Epidemiology.

I would like to thank all of St. Joe’s — all the staff that helped me in school and the houseparents I had. I would also like to thank my friends for making me want to keep coming back to St. Joe’s and for making it a fun time. If I didn’t come to St. Joseph’s I don’t know what I would be doing.

My advice to younger students is:

  • Get involved in as many activities as you can to make friends that will last a lifetime.
  • Work hard on your studies to keep good grades so that you can go to college and be successful.

Michelle - Class of 2014 Michelle, Class of 2014

My name is Michelle and I started at St. Joseph’s my freshman year. It was difficult starting my ninth grade year in a new place, but I was able to adjust and make friends quickly. Cheerleading was my favorite extracurricular activity. I have also been a member of Native American Club for all four years of high school, a member of the Chamberlain High School Track Team, and held jobs at Chelsea’s Boutique and Al’s Oasis Restaurant.

My favorite memory at St. Joseph’s is when the Hogebach Home girls and Sheehy Home boys all raced to the hill by the dining hall and went sledding, all out of breath! Afterwards, we went to the Carola Home to warm up and were welcomed by Tia and Mark to chill out and eat together.

My future plans are to attend Stewart School to study cosmetology. After Stewart, I plan to further my education at a tech school or possibly an art institute.

I have lots of thank yous and would first like to thank Rob and Cheryl for always being there for me since I have lived at Hogebach. If it weren’t for them, I’m not sure if I would have stayed at St. Joseph’s. Also, just this year I had the privilege of meeting Al and Nancy who are great houseparents as well! I wish you two were here earlier in my high school years but you guys had made senior year even better working with us, and for feeding us “starving teenagers.”

Thank you to Dee for helping me get situated with future plans and that confusing social security and FASFA mix up. Thank you to Amanda, my counselor, for being weird and understanding. It was fun going to Boston with you on a donor luncheon. Thank you to Robyn for becoming the Residential Coordinator and for being understanding and helpful.

Thank you to all the rest that have helped through my four years here at St. Joseph’s and making me feel welcome!

My advice to younger students is:

  • Have fun!
  • Keep drama-free as much as you can.
  • Keep your grades up and try hard.
  • Have respect for others and you will receive it as well.
  • Don’t try any stunt with Rob and Cheryl because they literally know everything when you think they wouldn’t.

Shawn Anthony - Class of 2014 Shawn Anthony, Class of 2014

My name is Shawn Anthony and I am from the Yankton Sioux tribe. I have attended St. Joseph’s since I was in seventh grade and participated in football and track.

Some of my best memories are of my sophomore year of football and the Original Carola Men!!!

My plans for the future are to go to Mitchell Tech for Electrical Construction. After that, I want to go into substations.

I really want to thank St. Joe’s staff for helping me throughout high school, especially my houseparents and my counselor Scott. Without them, I don’t think I would still be here.

I think the most important advice to give to the students coming up is:

  • Stick it out. I know it’s going to be hard when you first get here — I’ve been through it.
  • Just do your homework. If you complete your work on time, you won’t really have any issues.
  • I know you’re going to think the rules suck but, in the long run, it’s to help you once you graduate. It all benefits you in the end.

Reuben - Class of 2014 Reuben, Class of 2014

My name is Reuben and I have attended St. Joe’s since I was in first grade, except for my fourth and tenth grade years. I played football my freshman year and was on the varsity basketball team all four years of high school.

My favorite memory at St. Joseph’s was our home trip my senior year. St. Joe’s has taught me how to become independent and responsible. I would like to thank my mother and St. Joe’s staff. Everyone has helped me a lot throughout all my years here.

My future plans are to attend Presentation College in Aberdeen, South Dakota and Major in Education. I will also play basketball at Presentation.

My words of advice for the younger students are:

  • Take school seriously and pay attention.
  • Never take anything for granted.
  • Always make the best of the opportunities you have.

Wyatt Sydney - Class of 2014 Wyatt Sydney, Class of 2014

My name is Wyatt Sydney and I have been attending St. Joseph’s since the fourth grade. While at St. Joe’s, I have participated in football, basketball and track.

I don’t have one specific memory that is my favorite. Instead, my favorites are any that I spent having fun, smiling and laughing. I always love to reflect at the end of the day — think about my day and how it was. The day may end but the memories will always be with me.

My plans after graduation are to attend the University of South Dakota and find a career that will best fit me.

I would like to thank all the St. Joseph’s Staff members for helping me grow and find out who I am and what I would like to do in life. I would like to thank every one of the staff members for working hard, to make this the greatest place I know. Special thanks to my houseparents and the other staff who supported, especially the Rec Center Staff.

The best advice I can give is:

  • Be someone you want to be.
  • Have role models in your life.
  • Make the right decisions and learn from the bad ones.
  • Create your environment that you want to live in, one that is healthy for you and others.
  • Do not give up — if you fall down once, get back up.
  • Don’t worry; just do what you have to do to get where you want to be.
  • Stay strong!

 

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