As it turns out, Cinco de Mayo will also be a Native American celebration this year – at least for a busload of eighth- and ninth-graders from Paschal Sherman Indian School, part of the Colville Tribe in Omak, Wash.

That’s the day the students will be on the Washington State University campus for a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) field trip. WSU organizer Paula Groves Price said she hopes this will become an annual event for the school.

The students will take part in an outreach seminar and workshops including:

* Testing and predicting success or failure of beam designs in construction.

* Learning about microbes, infection, DNA and genetics.

* Managing natural resources, including water and fisheries.