John Herrington, the first Native American to go into space, was the keynote speaker for the Oglala Lakota College's graduation on Sunday.

Herrington, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, said graduating is a major achievement. But he told students to thank the people who supported and encouraged them to continue their education.

Herrington, who spent 14 days aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, said he wouldn't have gotten where he is today without the help of mentors. He had a hard time in college but went onto fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut.

Get the Story:
Astronaut to grads: Education makes dreams come true (The Rapid City Journal 6/27)

Relevant Links:
John Herrington Bio - http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/herringt.html
Space Shuttle Endeavour - http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/archives/sts-113

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