Photo by Sam Yu Karl Little Owl is a member of the Crow Indian tribe and just finished his junior year at Mount Saint Mary's University. Little Owl works in the office of the president at The Mount and is working on developing a Native American scholarship program. Purchase this photo

At the age of 26, Karl Little Owl, his wife and three children climbed aboard a U-Haul truck and headed east with their Chevy in tow. It took a full day to reach the Badlands of South Dakota and three days to reach Frederick County. The Little Owl family, of the Crow Indian Nation from the "big sky" country of Montana, was bound for strange surroundings and relationships based solely on the faith of opportunity.

Life on most Indian reservations is not pretty; lack of economic opportunity and widespread poverty is the norm. Of the current downturn in the American economy, Little Owl, an imposing figure at six feet two inches, said: "Times are always tough on the reservation É recession is always there."

A business management student at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg , Little Owl is taking advantage of a unique partnership program between two vastly different educational institutions. "I hope to take my educational exposure and experience back to Montana and advance opportunities there," he said.

In the mid-1900s, ubiquitous Catholic missions made an enduring presence in the great west. In the pristine land of western Montana, Catholic missionaries created St. Labre Indian School on the Crow Indian reservation about 20 miles from Billings, a 19th century frontier town. For 125 years, St. Labre has served American Indian children, including Little Owl. More than 700 children and young adults from kindergarten through high school currently attend.

The partnership program is a result of collaboration between Thomas Powell, president of Mount St. Mary's, a Catholic school, and Larry Cunningham, president of St. Labre Indian School. From 1994-1999, the seeds were planted when Powell was the dean of Education and Human Services at Montana State University in Billings.

When Powell headed up the Mount in 2003, he saw an opportunity to build an educational bridge with the Indian school.

"Part of the Catholic responsibility is to provide educational opportunities for people who don't have them," Powell said. "This program does that." Through his hard work at St. Labrey and volunteer improvement projects on the reservation, Little Owl was awarded a full scholarship to Mount St. Mary's.

Not only does this partnership benefit the Crow Indian Nation, it provides indirect benefits to the Mount, one of America's oldest colleges.

"Karl's presence alone enhances cross-cultural exposure for students at Mount St. Mary's and adds to our cultural depth," Powell said. Students and faculty alike frequently comment on how successful the partnership has been. Powell agrees. "I hear great comments all over campus."

Curtis Yarlott, executive director of St. Labre Indian School is a member of the Crow Indian Nation and was born and raised in Montana. About the school partnership, he said: "In the long-term, this program has the potential to increase enrollment in faith-based education. It's also an opportunity for our students to be associated with an institution of the caliber and reputation of Mt. Saint Mary's."

Little Owl frequently gives presentations about social diversity to his classmates. In addition, he participates in college administrative groups, adding fresh opinions, and is invited to give lectures to schools in Frederick County. Catoctin High School in Thurmont recently invited him to give a lecture on American Indian history and culture to an advanced placement class.

Little Owl sees the importance. "The 'older' generation is pretty much set in their mind-ways. Younger kids are much more open to discussion about cultural change, diversity and acceptance," he said.

Yarlott describes cultural differences as key to human relationships. "Learning to live with human diversity is critical today because our world is shrinking, the speed of information has created 'shorter' distances between people and we have to interact with many, many cultures of the world to be successful."

Returning periodically to his Crow reservation, Little Owl speaks with young people about educational opportunities and encourages them to aggressively seek these opportunities. He recently presented two scholarships at the 2009 St. Labre graduation ceremony and made presentations on the value of education to students and tribal elders.

Powell credits the school in Montana for the success of the partnership program. "St. Labre has a wonderful reputation for providing exceptional secondary education, and Karl is a great representative for their school and the Crow Indian Nation. He's a great leader."

Powell said the partnership program is successful beyond expectations. "The program provides educational opportunities today for people who may never have them. Our students and faculty are truly engaged with American Indian culture É Karl dispels negative stereotypes and myths about Indian people."

Powell, who traveled to St. Labre to award Little Owl his scholarship, said, "We are educators, and this program is only one example of our commitment to higher education. As we lead Mount St. Mary's into its third century, our passion confirms our reputation."