OJC Press Release ID: 2499

Monday, April 11, 2016

Don Bartlette to Speak At TRiO Awards Night

The Otero Junior College TRiO Student Success Services awards night will be held on Thursday April 21 at 6 p.m. in the Ed Stafford Theatre. Special speaker for the occasion is Dr. Don Bartlette.

Dr. Bartlette has been a full-time speaker for over forty years. He has appeared before local, state national and international groups and conferences. A Native American activist, he trained as a social worker, counselor, educator, consultant, and advocate for minority persons, victims of child abuse, survivors of alcohol addiction, troubled youth, and persons with disabilities.

His autobiography, Macaroni at Midnight, profiles Dr. Bartlette’s experiences as a Chippewa Indian child growing up with emotional, speech, and physical disabilities in an environment of poverty, violence, juvenile delinquency, homelessness, child abuse, racism, and alcoholism. It tells the story of how one person in his community helped him overcome childhood disadvantages and live and survive in a multicultural world. He has received national and international recognition.

According to Holly Lewis, director of TRiO Student Success Services at OJC, this night offers students an opportunity to tell their own stories of struggle and success. “Each of our students has a story to tell, a struggle to have overcome, and a triumph to inspire future students,” said Lewis.

The TRiO Awards Night event celebrates the journey and success of students in the TRiO program at Otero Junior College.

The Otero Junior College TRiO Student Success Services awards night will be held on Thursday April 21 at 6 p.m. in the Ed Stafford Theatre. Special speaker for the occasion is Dr. Don Bartlette.