Show INDIAN PROGRAM Some American Indian youth have participated in the Indian Student Placement Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and 87 percent of them have gone on to college or other post-high school vocational that 1974 is the anniversary of the placement Victor church social services said today the program has produced some outstanding Indian leaders and potential leaders who should have a great positive influence on the future of r The wherein parents of Latter-day Saint Indian students between the ages of eight and eighteen elect to have their children leave the reservation and spend the school year in foster was actually conceived IT WAS begun tinder the direction of President Spencer W. then a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles and now world leader of the In 1954 the First Presidency and the Council of Twelve Apostles recommended it be adopted as an official program of the There were 68 students placed in foster homes that first Brown and the figure grew steadily until it reached a peak of nearly in SINCE then because of its strong to strengthening the family the Church has placed considerable emphasis on fulfillment of Indian students' educational needs because of more and better facilities on the But there are still nearly students participating the placement program this the commissioner while more opportunities for schooling on the reservations are being made available now than in he parents are still opting for the placement program for their IT IS intended that of the placement program will usually become involved in helping their own Of the approximately Indian students at the Church-operated Brigham Young University in Indian enrollment in the about 60 percent are Eugena a Navajo Indian from New frolics In the back yard with her brother and sisters in Eugena is living with the John Cushing family during the school year as a participant in LUS Indian Student Placement noting its anniversary this program the drop-out rate for academic reasons among Indian students at BYU is a low 15 The percentage of students obtain their degree 20 This compares with the national average of Indian students in college of four FORMER placement students have gone on to careers in such diverse fields as social and college Among the many who are making significant contributions to society are George until recently president of Ganado In Lewis counseling coordinator for the School BAHE director of a Navajo agricultural and reclamation project in the Jen a social worker for the and Wilbert a BYU graduate directing the Office of Navajo Economic Opportunity for the Navajo All but Miss a Indian from are Miss Goenett is also Miss Indian Utah for IN Nora a Navajo currently attending has been appointed to a two-year term on the National Advisory Council on Financial Aid to which operates under the U.S. Department of Miss Begay is a former Miss Indian having been chosen after from the student placement PRESIDENT who was raised in Arizona and has always had a special affection for the Indian has Church is pleased with not only the placement program but with its other programs designed to provide educational opportunities and economic and to help eliminate social problems for our thousands of native American Latter-day Saint |