PABLO — U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is scheduled to deliver the commencement address at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo this weekend.
Two hundred students are expected to receive diplomas or certificates of completion at the ceremony that starts at noon on Saturday.
Department of Education press secretary Dorie Nolt says tribal colleges play such a vital role because they help preserve and restore Native languages, history and culture and provide high-quality education. She says Duncan has visited Indian Country several times and wanted to visit again to celebrate the success of Native students.
On Saturday morning, Duncan is scheduled to join area children attending a Nike basketball camp at Two Eagle River School.
Duncan was a co-captain of Harvard’s men’s basketball team in the mid-1980s and played professionally in Australia.