Meskvlwv Wesley, Sixth Grade
Meskvlwv “Musk” Wesley has been nominated for Southern Ute Student of the Season for Fall 2024. Meskvlwv is 11 years old and is in the sixth grade at Mountain Middle School in Durango, Colo. Wesley’s parents are LeAnn Baker-Wesley and Micco Wesley, also he has a younger brother Tenetke Wesley. Wesley is Southern Ute and Mvskoke, his Ute name is “Sanakava” meaning spotted horse and “Meskvlwv” is the Mvskoke word for oak tree. At school he enjoys the Student Interest Groups or “SIG” which are offered each quarter at Mountain Middle School. Through SIG, Wesley participated in Stillwater Music, Mountain Ambassador leadership group which fundraised for the La Plata County Humane Society and joined a food drive for the Manna Soup Kitchen. Wesley also had the opportunity to participate in a board game SIG where he shared and learned more about his favorite game of chess. Wesley’s favorite subjects are humanities and science. He identified teachers from SUIMA and his current teachers as his positive role models, sharing, “My teachers have given me tools to [be] successful in my education.”
His family’s comments included, “Meskvlwv is intelligent, hard working in and outside of school, and we are proud of his achievements in everything he does. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with family and friends, camping, hunting, fishing, archery, traveling, music, and football. Meskvlwv is always willing to lend a helping hand when needed and likes to tell jokes. Each year, he enjoys participating in the annual Bear Dances and Stomp Dances in Oklahoma.”
Amanda Evans, Humanities Teacher at MMS said, “It’s been a true pleasure to have Meskvlwv in my class. He is an incredibly dedicated student, always eager to put in the effort needed to excel. He approaches challenging tasks with resilience, never shying away from trying new and difficult things. Beyond his academic strengths, he is a warm and supportive classmate, consistently showing kindness and empathy toward others. Meskvlwv’s generosity and commitment to his peers set a wonderful example, and I am proud to see him recognized for his outstanding character and hard work. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!
Tenetke Wesley, Fourth Grade
Younger brother, Tenetke Wesley has also been nominated for Southern Ute Student of the Season for Fall 2024. Tenetke is nine years old and is in the fourth grade at Mountain Middle School in Durango, Colo. Wesley’s parents are LeAnn Baker-Wesley and Micco Wesley, also he is the younger brother of Meskvlwv Wesley. Wesley is Southern Ute and Mvskoke, his Ute name is “Ununi” meaning thunder and “Tenetke” is the Mvskoke word for thunder as well. At school he enjoys making new friends and his favorite subjects are Math and Science. He identified his teachers as his positive role models, both from his time spent at SUIMA and his current teachers at Mountain Middle School.
His family’s comments included, “Tenetke is very respectful and helpful, he always puts his best effort into everything he does. Tenetke has grown academically, he has received Student of the Week at Mountain Middle School. Just like his brother, we are very proud of his accomplishments. In his spare time, he enjoys hanging out with family and friends, building Lego sets, drawing, and playing football. Tenetke is also interested in playing musical instruments. Tenetke also enjoys participating in the annual Bear Dances and Stomp Dances in Oklahoma.”
Meredith Beal, MMS teacher said, “Tenetke Wesley is a true joy to have in the classroom. He arrives each and every day with a positive attitude and has the most beautiful manners. He works very hard and perseveres even when the subject matter is difficult for him. Tenetke is the type of child every teacher dreams of. What an amazing young man!”
“I can’t speak enough about these two brothers, Meskvlwv and Tenetke Wesley,” said Kelly Fiddler “They are both polite, kind and very hardworking. They are fun to teach because they listen attentively with a very positive attitude, and they apply quickly what was taught to them. They are both motivated to succeed and if they struggle, they get right back up and try again until they accomplish the task. Meskvlwv is a gentle young man and a wise old soul, Tenetke is a spark of light and very funny. While they are incredible individuals, they are also very tightly connected, woven together through their brotherhood and their culture. They are extremely supportive of one another. When one is down, the other is there offering positive and uplifting words of encouragement. I have not only seen this in the classroom, but I’ve also seen it when they play together. They are always there for each other, laughing, smiling, and enjoying life to the fullest. I believe both boys, one day could be fantastic Tribal leaders. Congratulations Meskvlwv and Tenetke and congratulations to your family for raising such fine young men!”