Jason Pretty Boy, an Idaho State University political science student and a coordinator of the ISU College of Business Native American Business Administration (NABA) Program, has been awarded a First Nations Leadership and Entrepreneurial Apprenticeship Development (LEAD) Program Fellowship for 2009-10.

"I was surprised I received it, but I am very pleased," Pretty Boy said. "The program is designed to develop leadership positions in tribes and nonprofit organizations that deal with Native American issues."

Pretty Boy, a Lakota Sioux tribal member, grew up in the Burley-Declo area and earned a two-year degree in business at the United Tribes Technical College in North Dakota. His work background is varied and he is now also a part-time employee at the KISU radio station and was once the news director there. He is a senior political science student. As a coordinator for NABA, Pretty Boy assists Native American business students to prepare for careers as entrepreneurs, business managers and administrators.

"We are delighted that the First Nations Development Institute has recognized the leadership roles that Jason occupies and the work he has accomplished with our Native American students and educational programming at ISU," said Stephen Adkison, ISU associated vice president of academic programming. "Jason's selection as a LEAD Fellow is great honor both for him and for our institution, and we are happy to support his fellowship activities."

The First Nations Development Institute is funded by a consortium of private foundations as well as contributions from individual supporters including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford Foundation and American Express. LEAD is an intensive one-year program that brings current Native nonprofit leaders and their organizations together with young Native professionals identified as having the potential to become the next generation of Native nonprofit leaders. Currently, First Nations has LEAD program cohorts based in Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

The LEAD program's goal is to develop a new pool of nonprofit leaders to meet the needs of the growing Native American nonprofit sector. LEAD Fellows are employed by a nonprofit organization or planning a career in the nonprofit sector, are committed to a career working in Native communities, and are affiliated with a tribe.

The one-year mentorship program will train participants in areas critical to successful nonprofit leaders, including financial management, factors affecting Native or reservation-based nonprofit organizations, fundraising, program evaluation and service leadership.

Pretty Boy is a member of the 2009-10 Seattle LEAD Apprentice Cohort, which has selected the Potlatch Fund to be the host organization for a cohort of five to 10 emerging native professionals who could benefit from mentorship and leadership training. There will be monthly mentoring meeting held at the Potlatch Fund's office in downtown Seattle and quarterly training sessions to be facilitated by either the Potlatch Fund or the First Nations Development Institute. He will also attend LEAD training events including that annual LEAD Institute in Albuquerque, N.M., Jan. 13-15 and he may have the opportunity to attend the Native Americans in Philanthropy annual conference. This is a yearlong commitment for Pretty Boy that runs through Oct. 31, 2010.

The First Nations Development Institute has its main office in Longmont, Colo., and has a field office in Virginia. For more information on this organization visit www.firstnations.org.