Theron Granbois was named student of the year to highlight Bemidji State University’s 36th annual American Indian Students Awards Recognition Banquet, held April 14 at BSU’s American Indian Resource Center.

Naomi Johnson, a sophomore liberal education major from Bemidji, and Tammy Shoots, a senior from Keewatin, Minn., majoring in indigenous native nations, were this year’s AIRC Award winners.

In addition, more than 90 students were recognized for their overall academic performance. Eighteen students were recognized for earning President’s List laurels for perfect 4.0 semester GPAs, while 56 were recognized for earning positions on the Dean’s List with GPAs between 3.25 and 3.99. An additional 29 students earned AIRC Academic Achievement Awards with semester GPAs between 3.0 and 3.24.

Granbois, a member of the Fort Peck tribe of Assiniboine/Sioux and a senior from Bemidji with a double-major in business administration and accounting, graduated in Dec. 2015. He has continued his studies as a part-time student this spring in order to fulfill his commitment to BSU’s McNair Scholarship program, which helps prepare underrepresented students for graduate school. Granbois presented the results of his McNair Scholarship research, “Awareness and Utilization of the Earned Income Tax Credit,” at the 2016 National McNair Conference in Texas and at Bemidji State’s Student Scholarship and Creative Achievement Conference.

He spent two academic years as a student worker in the BSU accounting and business departments and as an accounting tutor. He also volunteered with BSU’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, which offers free help with income tax returns to qualifying members of the Bemidji community.

Granbois is applying for graduate school and is pursuing a goal of becoming a university professor.

“Theron is an exceptional American Indian student because of his academic achievements, his significant contribution to the accounting program, his determined pursuit of his educational goals, his professional approach to the work required to succeed, and his natural curiosity for life-long learning,” said Dr. Leah Carpenter, associate professor of accounting, when nominating Granbois for the award.

Joe Nayquonabe, commissioner of corporate affairs for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, gave the keynote address. BSU will graduate a record 43 American Indian students in 2016.

CONTACT

• Bill Blackwell, Jr., executive director, American Indian Resource Center; (218) 755-2032, wblackwell@bemidjistate.edu