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Show 6- NEWS - DIXIE SUN WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31 , 2005 COLLEGE continued from page 5 The Ankara part of the reservation is dotted with rows of modest, homes, a single school and packs of stray dogs. High unemployment and alcoholism have long gripped the residents. Kroupa had been there to visit his grandparents and other relatives before But it wasn't until this trip that Kroupa began to appreciate how his identity was tied to the Ankara tribe "I started to get interested in who I was as a person," he said. "I wanted to start studying it, so I could get back to my people.'1 Several years later, he enrolled in UWM and began taking American Indian courses, seizing any chance he got to write about the Ankara. His first two summers, he went to North Dakola to help archeologists interpret Indian artifacts. one-stor- y Lila Ali, left, is a senior in health care a senior majoring in American Indian administration and Brad Kroupa is Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwauke- community organizer who participated in the McNair program at UWM and is now working toward a PhD at the University of He hasn't forgotten the statistics that he learned in McNair: only half of the students who enroll in a master's program graduate; only 15 percent go on to get PhDs But like Kroupa and All, Garrett's past is pushing him forward Latinos have the highest dropout rates in the country Garrett should know He is among those who dropped out. Through his research, Garrett is trying to figure out why some Latino students succeed, while others don't. His hope is to affect policy reforms. These young scholars are convinced: Higher education needs them just as much as they need it. (c) 2005, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Distributed by Kmght RidderYTribune Information Services. Last year, Kroupa applied to McNair and was accepted. He has begun graduate-leve- l research on efforts by the Ankara to maintain their identity. He is now working on the 10th draft of a personal statement he will submit as part of his graduate school applications for Yale and the universities of Minnesota, Arizona, Indiana and North Dakota Kroupa wants to become an Ankara historian. It's his attempt to keep his tribe's culture alive. "If my generation doesn't hold on." he said, "it could die." Later this month. Kroupa and Ali will take the GRE They will send out their applications this fall. With support from the McNair program, both are confident they will be accepted. But getting into graduate school is half the battle Staying enrolled can prove dif- Illinois-Chicag- ficult Just ask T oma s Garrett, 31, a former gang member turned students and facility, buy a. qualify ng Mac and get a free i Pot mi ni af te r mai n re bate Col lege -i n3E El ' 'ESI Jtl qr&RSW J Buy a Mac. Get a fiee iPod m ini. And with yo ur everyday education discount save up to $479. But act now. The offer is only good from June 23 through Septem be r 24, 200 5. Take advantage o f t h at a n Ap pie Sto te near you o r o nl ne at www,opilicoigoJlacfctascfiool. i s offe r i rJFix Liyj A II IrrJ'kKWVUi cftf Cijj IctiAm' imiIim rn rvwl YtYira q JWify afl I zo.'Kj 4 'V n.1 iS tfii; anf AM l v wk a kid m Ll nlvc id INad I liaYt My ia rf t i a S I AS tt-'- 3 4 . Cl Aiitrm xj Lr, In: |