FORT YATES - In the spring of 2007, The American Indian College Fund, based in Denver, announced a $17.5 million, historic grant initiative from the Lilly Endowment Inc.

The program, named Woksape Oyate, Lakota for "Wisdom of the People," aims to build the intellectual capital at many of the federally recognized tribal colleges.

In November 2007, Sitting Bull College was awarded $700,000 of the $17.5 million Lily Endowment and has used the initial funding to establish a 7th Generation Academic Excellence Center in hopes of enhancing the intellectual capital of its students and future leaders on the Standing Rock Reservation.

Sitting Bull College received its first installment in November 2007, with four additional payments of $140,000 each scheduled over the next four years.

The center is focused on developing students' writing, reading and oral communication skills and also will collaborate with key community stakeholders to successfully impact the education system on and near the Standing Rock Reservation.

As part of the program, the Center will offer a writing lab for community members, a student writing-speech club and professional development workshops for faculty and staff.

Crispin Maslog is the newly hired director of The 7th Generation Excellence Center and can be reached at 701-854-8040 or by e-mail at crism@sbci.edu.