Kerry Weishampel
A class project has turned into a lifechanging experience for Kerry Weishampel. Her Honors English class is reading “Carry: A Memoir of Survival on Stolen Land” by Toni Jensen. The book has inspired the Owens Community College student to become an advocate for missing and murdered indigenous women and she will soon travel to South Dakota to visit a victim’s family.
For her class project, she is profiling Mona Lisa Two Eagle, who was killed and found by her family weeks later. Weishampel has connected with victim’s family and learned more about what indigenous people have endured. She will soon travel with her son to visit the Lakota people of Rosebud, South Dakota. “It means everything to me to be involved in this project,” she said. “I can’t think of anything more meaningful to do with my life than advocating for marginalized people and lifting their voices.”
Since reading the book, Weishampel’s eyes have been opened to the struggles of indigenous people. “Reading the book made me realize not only how unfairly indigenous people have been treated, but also everything I’ve learned about indigenous people has mostly been from white people,” she said.
Jen Hazel, a co-leader of The BIG Read program, said some staff and faculty are highly involved, but described Weishampel as a pioneer for her level of involvement. “As an educator, this is your goal—to ignite a passion for learning in your students. I am extremely honored to have sparked Kerry to continue her journey of learning about indigenous peoples beyond the classroom,” said Hazel, an English professor who has Weishampel in class.
Jensen will visit the campuses of Owens Community College in April for the annual BIG Read author visit. Weishampel is eager to see the author in person. “I’m very grateful to Owens for creating such an enriching event as the BIG Read,” said Weishampel.
After Weishampel visits South Dakota, she will have just seven states left to visit in the United States. She is pursuing a psychology transfer pathway degree. She hopes to pursue a degree in forensic psychology in the future.
Learn more about The BIG Read >>
Learn more about the Psychology Transfer Pathway >>
Published March 2024