What is the FIRE Summit?
The FIRE Summit is a daylong experience designed to ignite Native youth, giving them a place to start dreaming while exploring their future academic possibilities. Middle school and high school students get to create and build relationships with college staff, faculty, and other Native students while learning about possible career pathways.
The FIRE Summit started as an annual event ten years ago. It has grown into a partnership between South Puget Sound Community College and the four surrounding tribes: the Nisqually Tribe, the Squaxin Island Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, and the Skokomish Tribe.
For more information or questions related to the event, contact Shanon Millman, Director of Tribal Programming, SPSCC.
FIRE Summit Speaker: Finding Your Voice by Rosalie Fish
Rosalie Fish, from Auburn, Washington, is a 21-year-old member of the Cowlitz Tribe and a competitive runner from the Muckleshoot Reservation. Fish runs collegiately for the University of Washington, and dedicates her races to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and has generated national attention by painting a red handprint across her face and the letters “MMIW” on her leg during competition.
2024 FIRE Summit Scholarship
FIRE Summit scholarships are available to any student who meets the following criteria:
- Have participated in an indigenous and/or cultural activity (canoe journey, powwow, or past FIRE Summit event) or who is registered to attend the 2024 FIRE Summit
- Are a current high school, Running Start, or SPSCC student
- Are applying to SPSCC for enrollment in Fall 2024
Award recipients will be announced and notified in early June 2024 to be awarded in time for Fall 2024 enrollment.