BAY MILLS — Gail Crazythunder, BMCC alumna and former TRIO student, has been selected to attend the Council for Opportunity in Education 24th Annual Policy Seminar and the 20th Annual Seminar on Relations with the U.S. Dept. of Education. Crazythunder will travel to Washington, D.C. for the seminar March 20-24 to help the nations leaders understand the connection between Congress and student success, and to advocate for low income students who are the first generation in their families to attend college.
“It's my way of giving back to TRIO,” she said.
Crazythunder learn about Dept. of Education policies and participate in break out sessions. The event will also be an opportunity to network with others.
She was nominated by BMCC TRIO Coordinator Deb LeBlanc. “It's a big honor for her to be selected, only two from each state are chosen,” said LeBlanc.
Crazythunder, LeBlanc and a van load of BMCC TRIO students will head to Kalamazoo Feb. 20 for the MI-MAEOPP student leadership conference where Crazythunder will receive an award and the students will compete in a quiz bowl. Students are Sara Hallesy, Floyd Perry, Jeff Gaus, Les Neubert and alternate Barb Wilkins.
Crazythunder will also be honored at a banquet in Washington.
When LeBlanc called to let her know she had been selected, she was surprised and excited. Now that she has had time to think about it, she realizes what a great opportunity and a great honor it is to be chosen.
“To have been selected is unbelievable,” she said. “I'm looking forward to it.” Crazythunder feels the trips will be valuable experiences bring to future internships and beyond.
She graduated from BMCC with two Associates in Social Studies and General Studies. She went on to Lake Superior State university to obtain her four-year degree in Political Science with pre-law studies.
She had intended to go for a major in liberal studies but changed to political science and sociology when she found out she could not move more than 100 miles away from Chippewa County due to a rule imposed by Probate Court Judge Nicholas Lambros in May 2002, according to Crazythunder. She explained that in a custody split, is one parent moves more than 100 miles away, they could lose custody of their children.
“It has affected a lot of families,” she said, adding that one parent could move and give up their custody without knowing because the rule is “automatic.”
It meant no law school for the 26-year-old single mother, so instead she is taking her Masters in Pubic Administration — still with a concentration in law — from Northern Michigan University on the LSSU campus. Although she still intends to someday attend law school, right now she is concentrating on teaching and advocating for women.
She is a Sault Tribe member born in Seattle and raised with her mom in Newberry. She now lives in the Sault and is newly engaged to Bill Marsh.
Crazythunder said her son, Micah, 6, is her “number one help in getting through school.” Her college experience has been great for her son, she said. He recently earned his own computer by being able to take it apart and reassemble it, through a special school program. He had learned about computers by spending time with mom at school.
