Moorhead Public Schools

Shortly before the end of the 2024-25 school year, the Moorhead Area Public Schools Indian Education program hosted its annual graduation ceremony at the Moorhead High School Career Academy. In addition to honoring the 29 soon-to-be MHS graduates from the program, this year’s event also celebrated long-time program worker Donna Norquay.
Norquay, who retired from the district in 2021, started with the Indian Ed Program in 1993, working 28 years in service of its mission of ensuring the needs of American Indian students attending Moorhead Schools are met to achieve graduation.
“Donna put a lot of time and effort into the program over nearly 30 years and looking back to when she retired, we didn’t feel like we had the opportunity to truly honor her,” said Delores Gabbard, home school liaison and Title VI coordinator with the Indian Education Program. “So we thought it was a great time to bring her back and give her a star quilt and honor her in the traditional ways.”
Not only did MAPS Superintendent Dr. Brandon Lunak attend the ceremony, but numerous former Indian Ed staffers also came out to support Norquay.
“It was really nice to see faces associated with the program for so long, and Donna really appreciated seeing some of her old work colleagues,” added Gabbard.
Every year, the Indian Ed Program holds this ceremony—which moved into the Career Academy starting in 2022—to celebrate the achievements of the students in the program and their soon-to-be graduation from Moorhead High School. Each outgoing Spud received a star quilt in Moorhead school colors to mark the occasion.
“Some of these kids are the first in their families to graduate from public school, so it’s really important to honor that,” explained Gabbard. “It’s important for the graduates to be able to celebrate with their families in a more intimate ceremony. This year I watched some of the students’ younger siblings playing after the ceremony and talking about when they graduate and when they get their star quilt—that’s powerful.”
The Indian Education Program supports qualifying students in Moorhead Area Public Schools from pre-K through 12th grade, offering services including liaisons in all school buildings, home visits, phone calls, college and career readiness and more.