Southern Ute tribal member Sarafina Chackee has been nominated as the Southern Ute Student of the Season for the Fall of 2019. Chackee currently attends the 10th grade at Ignacio High School. Her parents are Neida Chackee and Vernon Chackee.

“Sarafina Chackee is an enthusiastic individual who balances her traditional values and duties along with being a positive student well. Her involvement in many different Tribal Youth activities and all-around positiveness makes her a great Student of the Season.  Sarafina’s quiet, yet positive personality is quite a pleasure to be around and I look forward to watching her grow into a positive role model for her Tribe,” stated Southern Ute High School Education Teacher, Damon White Thunder.

“Sarafina is a hard-working individual in school as well as in youth activities that she is involved in.  In the short time that I have had the opportunity to work with Sarafina, I have seen major growth in her confidence, seen her open up in public settings, seen interactions with peers and adults contain not only laughter and insight, but with all parties walking away with knowledge that was not there before.  I look forward to seeing more growth for Sarafina and those around her, as her attitude is an infectious one. I also look forward to the person that she will become and all the positive motivations she has to sway the future for this community,” expressed Sunshine Cloud Smith Youth Advisory Council and Youth Employment Program Coordinator, Dustin Weaver.