Student Spotlight

Meet Nakiya Currier

Renaissance Teen

Nakiya Currier enjoys spending time with her grandma, listening to her favorite bands (Thirty Seconds to Mars and Coheed in Cambria), running cross-country, playing the guitar, and reading. In addition to all these interests, and maintaining good grades in school, Nakiya finds time for her family's tradition of weaving.

Nakiya began weaving when she was six years old. "My grandma and my mom taught me how to weave, and I'm still learning how to card the sheep's wool. To make our natural dyes, we go collect berries, bark, roots, flowers, nuts, and onion skins."

Two years in a row, Nakiya entered and placed first in the Southwest Indian Foundation's Scholarship Art Competition. In addition, her work has been added to the Permanent Collection at the Roundhouse Capital Building in Santa Fe, NM. A display titled, "Three Generations of Weavers," showcases her family's work.

Reverend and Mrs. Merritt Berg from Chicago, IL, have been Nakiya's mentors since she was in kindergarten. "They encourage me to do my best. Although I have never met them, when they write, they really seem to care. They mean a lot to me." In addition to her mentors, Nakiya credits her family's strong support and encouragement for her achievements.

With all of these diverse interests and talents, Nakiya is a renaissance woman of her time. Her plans for the future? Right now she is keeping them open. "I'm planning on going to college. Right now I'm unsure what I want to do when I finish. I will always keep arts in my life."