Little Priest Tribal College (LPTC) recently celebrated its 25th anniversary of providing education to students from the Winnebago, Nebraska community and beyond. The college offers 12 degree programs and achieved a historic enrollment milestone in the 2022-2023 academic year. LPTC President Manoj Patil emphasized the institution’s commitment to the values of respect, integrity, and self-reliance, and its dedication to serving a diverse student body. The college aims to further expand its educational resources to help students achieve academic excellence. The LPTC Board Chair, Miskoo Petite, highlighted the college’s role in providing opportunities to tribal communities and expressed a commitment to continued growth and education.
Little Priest Tribal College Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Little Priest Tribal College (LPTC) recently marked its 25th anniversary of providing education to students from the Winnebago, Nebraska community and beyond. Since its establishment in 1996, the college has expanded its offerings to include 12 degree programs. In the 2022-2023 academic year, LPTC achieved a historic enrollment milestone. The celebration of the college’s 25th anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on its mission inspired by Chief Little Priest, the last war chief of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Chief Little Priest envisioned access to higher education for the tribe’s people, a vision that LPTC has embraced.
Commitment to Values and Diverse Student Body
LPTC President Manoj Patil highlighted the institution’s commitment to values such as respect, integrity, and self-reliance. These values are cherished by the tribe and applied to every student who enters the college. LPTC serves a diverse student body, with over 70 percent Native students and nearly 30 percent non-Native students. The college’s dedication to serving the community is evident in its actions and its goal of providing academic excellence to all students.
Expanding Educational Resources for Future Growth
Looking to the future, LPTC Board Chair Miskoo Petite expressed enthusiasm for further expanding the college’s educational resources. Tribal communities have historically faced poverty and a lack of opportunity, and Little Priest Tribal College aims to strengthen possibilities for children, families, and clans. The college intends to continue growing and providing relevant, state-of-the-art programs to empower the community and foster the development of strong, educated individuals.
