Shawntell Misquadace celebrated her academic accomplishments at St. Cloud Technical and Community College’s Blanketing Ceremony, according to a May 4 announcement. The event marked a significant milestone for Misquadace, who improved her grades dramatically since graduating from Tech High School and McKinley ALC in 2022 with a 0.7 GPA.
The story highlights the importance of perseverance and tradition for students from Native American backgrounds as they reach graduation milestones. The Blanketing Ceremony offers an opportunity for Indigenous graduates to honor their achievements in a culturally meaningful way.
Misquadace said, “I got the strength and courage to not be scared of going to college. I wasn’t held back from who I was in high school – being a college student and adult is far different from being a high school student. Now I have a 4.0.” She plans to pursue her dream of becoming a NICU nurse at Minneapolis Children’s Hospital by applying for the Associate Degree in Nursing program after earning her Associate of Arts degree this spring.
The blanketing tradition is open to those who identify as Native American, First Nations, Alaska Native, or Indigenous and are graduating from local colleges, universities, or District 742 schools. This year’s ceremony was hosted by St. Cloud Technical and Community College on Friday, May 1, honoring graduates across educational levels.
This was not Misquadace’s first time participating; she also took part in the inaugural St. Cloud ceremony in 2022 by placing her hand on the tipi during that year’s event. As she celebrated both her turnaround in academics and upcoming graduation this year, friends and family cheered while she received her blanket.
