Caye is Indian student of the year

Joe Caye, a 2002 Polson High School graduate and a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, was named Indian College Student of the Year by the Montana Indian Education Association.

Caye is a junior at the University of Montana where he is pursuing a degree in computer science. The honor, he said, is a reminder that hard work pays off.

"It feels good to be honored with such a prestigious award," he said. "It means I'm keeping up with society. It lets me know my time studying is paying off."

Maintaining about a 3.3 grade point average while working part time as a student support rep with the American Indian Student Services Program is a challenge, but challenge is something Caye has never shied away from.

"In Little Guy wrestling, he always took on heavier kids. He likes a challenge. Teachers and coaches have always challenged him and he never complained, he just went right into it," said his dad, Louis. "He's always been a go-getter."

Caye is simply transferring that take-on-anything-mentality to college acedemics, Louis explained.

"It feels good to have my work ethic recognized," Caye said, and being named Indian College Student of the Year doesn't hurt the resume.

However, he said couldn't have done it without the support of his family, he said.

"They're really proud, all my family is. Not just my immediate family but also my extended family. I like to give them a lot of credit. Without them I wouldn't have made it this far," he said.

It's all reaffirming, especially after a awkward first semester when his social life was less than active.

"I pretty much kept to myself," he said. "I lived a lot in my dorm. I felt out of place, but after the first semester I felt more comfortable."

But that wasn't unusual for a lot of freshman, he noted.

"It's something I saw a lot of people go through."

He credits the AISSP for easing the transition from high school to college.

"Without them, I don't know if I'd feel comfortable," he said.

The MIEA takes all Native American college students across Montana into account when selecting an honoree.

"He just stood out," said AISS Director Patrick Weasel Head. "He is unique in the sense that he has strong family ties. A lot of people don't have that."

Weasel Head said that student workers aren't always reliable, but "Joe is one of those you can always count on."

"It warms my heart. It brings tears to my eyes watching him go from high school [where he maintained a 3.6 GPA] and carry that through college," said his mom, Gigi. "It's pretty big for the Caye family, on both his mom's and his dad's side."