DURANT, Okla. ­ Southeastern Oklahoma State University recently hosted a week-long Chickasaw Prep Academy.

The Academy provided students of Children's Village an opportunity to participate in a simulated college-going experience through the camp on Southeastern's Durant campus. Students were offered opportunities to learn through an academic experience, creative expressive programming, college prep activities, leadership games, and recreational activities.           

The event was sponsored by Southeastern Oklahoma State University Continuing Education, Native American Center for Student Success, and the Chickasaw Nation. Michele Claxton is the Director of the Continuing Education Program at Southeastern.           

The theme for the week was Bats and it was facilitated by several SE professors. Dr. Bryon Clark, Dean/Professor of the School of Graduate/University Studies and bat expert/enthusiast, provided instruction in an academic experience where students were afforded the chance to be introduced to the bat world, including photography, feeding habits, biology and important roles bats play in ecosystems as well as their role in cultural stories and myths.           

Clark provided the framework to involve students in a simulated community "problem" with bats in order to teach students how to address the issue faced by a community. The activity culminated in a community council meeting at the end of the Academy.             

David Barnes, Associate Professor of Fine Arts, and Krystall Barnes, local Artist and Outreach Specialist for the University, instructed students in a creative expression experience in art and literature, as well as initiating discussions on bats as they relate to Native American culture and pop cultures.           

Students had opportunities to develop self-portraits as bats with special emphasis on the super hero concept and their ³back stories,² allowing students to produce "their story" in the form of a super hero using serial art (comic book development).           

Other programming included college prep activities covering financial aid/scholarship planning, higher education Native American opportunities, career opportunities, ACT prep, library technology, and academic preparation.           

A wellness program was provided each day with students learning the importance of proper nutrition and benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
Leadership games included stickball and history presentation by Curtis Billy, as well as a special presentation on Chickasaw history by Dr. Brad Lieb, Special Assistant in Cultural Affairs for the Chickasaw Nation.           

Participants in the 2009 Chickasaw Prep Academy held on the Durant campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University took timeout for a group photo. Left, bottom to top: Tim Boatmun, Selina Taylor, Morgan Haydel, Jessica Kretschmar, Jessica Evans, Leslie Scheerger, Destiny Brown, Dr. Bryon Clark. Right, bottom to top: Echo Adcock, Krystall Barnes, Michele Claxton, Dr. Shannon McCraw, Jenny Jones, Kim Haydel, Matt Haydel, Chris Wesberry, top right.