Laurette Pourier, Director of the new UTTC center in Rapid City, presents a gift to SD Governor Dennis Daugaard, as UTTC President David Gipp and Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman Tex Hall look on. PHOTO BY/ Karin Eagle
Grand opening for UTTC Rapid City Campus
By Karin Eagle
Native Sun News Staff Writer RAPID CITY- Amidst a crowd of community members and guests from the hosting college, United Tribes Technical College out of Bismarck opened the doors to a new opportunity for higher education in the Black Hills Region. The UTTC Black Hills Learning Center in Rapid City recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony that brought together several dignitaries. SD Governor Daugaard, Rapid City Mayor Kooiker, UTTC President Gipp and others were among the people gathered behind the ceremonial ribbon. One of the partners in the venture is the president of Dream Design International, Hani Shafai. Shafai was also on hand to enjoy the culmination of many months of hard work, creating the work space required by UTTC’s needs for classroom and administration space needed. The learning center is housed in the old NAU building on Kansas City Street. “We are here because we have a cultural, spiritual and economic calling,” Vice President Phil Baird said during the Rapid City ceremony. “Collectively we are about rebuilding Indian nations ... we are here in the Black Hills to extend ourselves to our relatives.” The college also intends to offer a variety of dual-enrollment classes to help prepare high school graduates for higher education, no matter where they plan to attend college. Some of the courses available are in medical transcription, nutrition and food service, teacher education, business management with emphasis in either small business management or in tribal management, and criminal justice. “We invite you to visit the UTTC Rapid City Learning Center and meet our friendly staff to learn about the programs and classes offered,” said Laurette Pourier, the director of the new facility. Pourier says she is available any time to help those interested. She may be contacted at (605) 390-6927 or lpourier@uttc.edu. Additional information is also available at the college’s website which is found at www.uttc.edu. (Contact Karin Eagle at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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