Native American Education Program- Jordan District

As Salutatorian, Herriman High's Joaquin Heaton welcomed his classmates to the future. What's ahead for this talented Navajo with the perfect GPA? Joaquin will be serving an LDS mission in Ecuador and then going to Utah State University to study Aerospace Engineering. Best of luck to Joaquin and all his classmates! You already inspire us. We can't wait to see what you do in the future.

What's next for you? What are you doing this summer? Send us your grad pics and videos. We'd love to share with the community. Email [email protected]. Have a great summer!

Episode 352: Celebrating Huge Milestone for Multi-Talented Native American Students

They have dedicated their lives to celebrating culture, community, and academic achievement and now they’ve made it to graduation, getting well-earned high school diplomas.

On this episode of the Supercast, meet some multi-talented Native American students who were part of an annual Jordan School District Community Night celebrating culture through traditional dance, music, a dynamic drum circle, art, and more. Hear how the Native American students hope to use their academic success to serve as a springboard for future pursuits and personal growth.

Listen to this episode and others by searching "Jordan Supercast" on your favorite podcast platform. Find this episode in the comments below.

Tiyan Beletso, a junior at West Jordan High School, prepares to deliver a Little Caesar’s pizza and Crazy Bread to his friend and classmate Yvonne Gamble. Yvonne, also a junior, received the pizza prize as reward for making the Jordan School District Native American High School Honor Roll with a 3.9 GPA. Yvonne, a Navajo, is not only a talented scholar (she sent Tiyan to get her pizza because she was retaking a test - way to commit to your grades, Yvonne!) but she plays receiver and defensive back in football. And to top it all off she's studying Nurse Assisting at Jordan Tech (JATC) during the school day. Tiyan, a Navajo, also gets good grades and is a committed volleyball athlete who plans to attend a Native American conference in the midwest this summer.

Little Caesar’s and Domino’s have donated hundreds of pizzas over the years in support of Native American students in the district, so thanks to both businesses for their generous support.

Congratulations to Averi Yazzie of Copper Hills High School who joins 14 other students on the Jordan School District Native American High School Honor Roll. In addition to her outstanding grades (3.9 GPA), Averi is a talented softball shortstop who helped the Grizzlies advance deep into the state playoffs. Averi and her Honor Roll peers each receive a certificate for 1 free pizza and Crazy Bread, courtesy of our good friends at Little Caesar's Pizza. Here are the Spring 2026 Honor Roll members:

Quinnton Eccles, 3.8, Junior - Bingham, Cherokee
Cooper Johnson, 3.8, Sophomore - Bingham, Goshute
Ariana Haws, 3.9, Junior - Copper Hills, Wilton Rancheria
Averi Yazzie, 3.9, Junior - Copper Hills, Navajo
Drake White, 3.9, Sophomore - Herriman, Navajo
Brayden Wahlquist, 3.9, Sophomore - Herriman, Navajo
Ayden Lovell, 3.9, Junior - Herriman, Navajo
Fynnegan Mcdaniel, 3.9, Junior - Herriman, Choctaw
Samuel To'a, 4.0, Sophomore - Herriman, Comanche
Joaquin Heaton, 4.0, Senior - Herriman, Navajo
Hadley Eckman, 3.9, Sophomore - Mountain Ridge, Paiute
Tayson Matagi, 3.8, Sophomore - Mountain Ridge, Navajo
Andrew Yazzie, 3.9, Senior - Mountain Ridge, Navajo
Addison Lemon, 3.9 Senior, Riverton, Cherokee
Yvonne Gamble, 3.9, Junior, West Jordan, Navajo

Jordan School District Bingham High School PTSA Herriman High Mountain Ridge High School Herriman, UTRiverton, Utah - City Government West Jordan City Hall

Congratulations to Ariana Haws, grand prize winner of our Orange Shirt Day T-Shirt design contest. Ariana is a junior at Copper Hills High School, and in addition to being a talented artist, she’s also a dancer and straight A student. Other finalists in the contest include DJay Jones, West Jordan High School, EJ Jones, West Jordan High School, and Kaitlyn Durfey, a member of our Native American Community and former high school mentor in the Native American program. Ariana’s design will be available for limited distribution in September. She and other designers will also receive prizes.

Orange Shirt Day is held annually on September 30th to honor the survivors of residential and boarding schools and remember the children who never returned home. It is a day to recognize the impact of these schools on Indigenous communities and to affirm that every child matters.

Two exciting cultural, educational and social camps are available in June to K-12 Native students in our district.

Earth Connections Camp is an outdoor classroom that inspires American Indian youth (K-12) to connect with their natural and cultural heritage, as well as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) career paths.

June 9, 2026 - Thanksgiving Point (see links below)
June 16, 2026 - Red Butte Garden (see links below)

* Learn how American Indian youth can live in two worlds = intertwining western science with traditional-cultural wisdom
* Work with American Indian STEM experts - Work with American Indian and non-American Indian role models and mentors

CONTACT:
Dee Cummings 801-864-0318 (c)
Dr. Chuck Foster (801) 718-4381

Thanksgiving Point Camp Flyer - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E_TpGrLdSvhG3987Fpemey4mjFpwtHHX/view?usp=drive_link
Red Butte Garden Camp Flyer - https://drive.google.com/file/d/143l1ExP7pyJC575W4-77QvSDnwZUGRo_/view?usp=drive_link
Photo Release Form (required) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RE-JpaasajciZ9OrQIVdtqwmubxgXJKN/view?usp=drive_link

Bingham High School senior Sonja Eccles is still considering her options after high school, but no matter what, she’s set herself up for success. The talented senior has a 3.5 GPA and spent four years as a manager for the school football team. Oh yeah, she also owns her own business.

Sonja, whose Native roots are Cherokee, developed her Nail Tech skills at the Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers, a technical high school that provides Jordan District students with practical skills that can be applied to real-world careers. Students attend as part of their regular school day.

After her training at the JATC, Sonja got her license last June. Her dad helped her start her own business – Nails By Sonja. She continues to build her business and plans to open her own nail salon someday.

Sonja says her parents are her heroes. “My dad opened his own CPA firm and my mom works with him,” she says. “Their journey working together is inspiring. It hasn't been easy, but being a business owner never is. They have shown me that if I work hard, I can be successful.”
Bingham High School PTSA Jordan School District JATC

Discount Lagoon tickets are available to students, faculty and families.

https://secure.rocket-rez.com/RocketWeb2/b752e104f7d6bfb6/items/1/464?conid=7a8edb4c8736e397

Please note that there are two separate pricing tiers available through this link:

Students & Faculty: $51.28 + tax

Family Members: $76.95 + tax

This unique link is available for your group to use for the entire month of May.