HINU SP20 Convocation

Be engaged — Convocation speaker and Haskell Indian Nations University Alumni, Mr. Leroy “Buster” Silva, brought students and faculty to their feet delivering a message, engage with your friends and neighbors here at Haskell. Silva started his Haskell journey through the encouragement of his family and community to go and play basketball. That journey was made possible through the connections he made along the way. Silva arrived at the airport in Kansas City not knowing how he was going to get to Haskell, but a stranger noticed him and saw him already as part of the Haskell community and offered to give him a ride. That was a start to a shift in his attitude that Haskell was more than an outlet for him to pursue sports, but it was a connection that led him to be the person he is today and impactful in the work he does. His message is encouraging to students, that through the activities he had students and staff engage in throughout his talk, they were building a community, fostering connections and that those will help you succeed. This is the magic of Haskell: the Haskell community.