Cheryl Crazy Bull, president of Northwest Indian College, was honored with the Enduring Spirit Award during the 8th annual Native Women’s Leadership Forum. She was one of four Native women to be honored in the Northwest region. The event took place on Sept. 27 in Shelton, Wash. and was hosted by the Squaxin Island Tribe.

The conference was created by the Native Action Network to celebrate the achievements by Native women.

Crazy Bull was nominated by the College Board of Trustees for her commitment to Indian education for 30 years and her work as president of the college.

“Cheryl Crazy Bull is a strong Native leader who has created a positive road to success for NWIC students, faculty and staff,” Julie Johnson, NWIC Board of Trustees vice chair, said in a press release.

Crazy Bull is the first woman president of the college and has been president since 2002. She is a Sicangu Lakota from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota.

With her leadership, the college has grown and has become accredited as a four-year degree granting institution. The college is launching a $44 million capitol campaign to build a new permanent campus, with 82 percent of the capital campaign already met.

Several new buildings have opened in recent years including the first extended classroom and office building on the Swinomish Reservation.