Sponsors Step Up for Native Education: Announcing NIEA 2012 Convention News

Sponsors Step Up for Native Education: Announcing NIEA 2012 Convention News:

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA |  OCTOBER 18-21, 2012

For Immediate Release May 3, 2012 Contact NIEA Communications 202.544.7290 (Phone) rbiddle@niea.org (E-mail) TRIBES, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, LINE UP TO SUPPORT LEADING FORUM FOR ADVANCING NATIVE EDUCATION  Washington, D.C. - The National Indian Education Association is proud to announce the latest round of Tribes, Native community organizations, and other groups stepping up to support its 2012 Convention and Trade Show. The Convention, which will be held October 18-12 in Oklahoma City, Okla., is the leading forum for advancing excellent, culturally-based education for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children so they can bring jobs, bolster prosperity, and preserve the cultures of their families and communities. Last year, the Convention attracted some 2,200 educators, school and district administrators, parents, students, advocates, Tribal leaders, researchers, businesses, and others interested in helping all of our children achieve success.      The round of sponsors stepping up for NIEA 2012 includes: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma: Platinum Sponsorship of $25,000 for overall Convention activities. Edward L. Gaylord Downtown YMCA: Platinum Sponsorship in the form of an in-kind donation of space for NIEA's youth education event at Convention.   Chickasaw Nation: Platinum Sponsorship of $15,000 for support of NIEA's youth education event at Convention.   Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes: Silver Sponsorship of $3,000 for the youth education event during Convention.  United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma: A Bronze Sponsorship of $200 for overall Convention activities.   "We welcome the support these proud sponsors have shown for supporting the most-important mission of all Native people: Building brighter futures for our students, Tribes, and communities" says NIEA President Quinton Roman Nose. "And NIEA looks forward to additional support from advocates for improving Native education." This year's Convention focuses on helping Native educators, communities, and schools leverage digital and online education - from techniques such as blended learning, to tools such as Blackboard -- in providing high-quality teachers and excellent, culturally-based curriculum that students need in an increasingly knowledge-based economy and multicultural society. Using technology to address high levels of dropouts among Native students, and helping young men and women get ready for college, technical school, and ultimately, for career, will be addressed in the more than 100 workshops and speeches that will be held during Convention this year.    Future NIEA Convention Sponsors can learn about the benefits of supporting this premiere education conference by downloading our sponsorship guide atNIEA.org/ConventionSponsorship; they can also e-mail NIEA's helpful staff atNIEA@niea.org. Formal pre-registration for Convention, along with information on speakers and information on how to propose workshops, will be opened up in the next couple of weeks. Media can learn more by reaching NIEA Communications staff at 202.544.7290 or by e-mail at rbiddle@niea.org.  ABOUT NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION  The premiere organization advocating for educational excellence, opportunity, and equity for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students, the mission of the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) is to support traditional Native cultures and values; to enable Native learners to become contributing members of their communities; to promote Native control of educational institutions; and to improve educational opportunities and resources for American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians throughout the United States. Learn more at  www.NIEA.org.