Gov. Gregory Mendoza gave the keynote address at three graduation ceremonies in May, lauding Native American graduates for their achievements and pushing them to continue striving to reach their potential.

Mendoza spoke at two American Indian Convocations: one at the Maricopa County Community Colleges, held at South Mountain Community College, on May 9, and another at Arizona State University the following day. On May 13, Mendoza flew to Salem, Ore., to speak at the graduation of the Chemawa Indian School, a boarding school commonly attended by Gila River Indian Community members.