Red Cloud alum wins the American Higher Education Consortium logo contest

posted October 29,2007

Sandra Red Feather a former Red Cloud graduate and current student of the United Tribes Technical College has won the American Indian Higher Education Consortium logo contest.

Red Feathers’ computer-designed logo will be used as the official 2008- 27th Annual AIHEC Conference logo. The conference is held every year by AIHEC as a way to bring students together from thirty-five various Higher Education Institutions. These institutions are members of AIHEC for the service they do to help Native Americans pursue their dreams of completing higher education.

Red Feather took three weeks to creatively complete her logo design. Her design was completely done on the computer using the program Adobe Illustrator.

After researching about the higher education institutions that usually attend the conference, Sandra came up with one design that would represent them all. She used six different animals that are indigenous to various regions in which the AIHEC members come from. For her background, she used the four Medicine Wheel colors to represent her heritage.

Included in the design is the saying “Coming Together as One” which will be the official theme for the 2008 conference.

The 2008 27th Annual American Indian Higher Education Conference is scheduled for March 17-20 in Bismarck, ND.

“I was shocked at first. I really didn’t know how to take it because it was an unexpected surprise. My advisors and instructors were all proud on my winning and the publicity that it brought to the Art- Art Marketing Department. It was a joyous moment for us all at the time. I have to say that this project took me over three weeks to do, but I’m glad that all the hard work paid off. I give a big thanks to Wayne Pruse, who encouraged me to enter the contest and Colleen Bredhahl, who guided me on making the logo.” These were the words of Sandra when asked how she felt about winning the contest.

Sandra’s mother Mary Weasel Bear stated “When Sandra first told me that she won the AIHEC contest, I didn’t think it would be in the news. She is very quiet, so when the KFYR-5 television station in Bismark was going to interview her on Tuesday she called me because she was nervous and scared. She did the interview with a little help from her classmates.”

Sandra’s mother, Mary works in the Development Department at Red Cloud School. Mary when asked how she felt about her daughter winning the contest said, “I am very proud of my daughter for her accomplishments. I hope she uses this opportunity as a stepping stone to achieve success in all that she does. I would like to thank my family, Tina Merdanian, Red Cloud Indian School and everyone who encouraged her because with your support she is on her way to achieving her goals.”

Sandra Red Feather is a 2006 graduate of Red Cloud High School. She is now in her second year of the Art- Art Marketing Program at United Tribes Technical College. When asked if what she thought about attending college at United Tribes said “Coming to college has changed the way I see myself and all the obstacles I have to face to be able to reach my goals as a Graphic Designer”

Sandra then stated “My transition from Red Cloud to College helped me to prepare what all I needed to learn how to survive in college. Red Cloud was a big help in the end because without the knowledge of college, I don’t know where I would be right now. My first year of college was like high school all over again but in a different matter or in other words, “my classes brought back memories of high school- they were just a little tougher.””

Since winning the contest, Sandra has had many job offers to make other logos for a number of groups and organizations. She has also been featured in the Lakota Country Times Newspaper, the United Tribes website and KFYR-5 television station out of Bismarck ND.