Nena Lopez, Teacher, Kwiyagat Community Academy. Nena is from the Uintah Band of the Northern Ute Tribe out of Fort Duchesne, Utah and the Weenuche Band of the Ute Mountain Tribe out of Towaoc, Colorado. “My passion is teaching the children here in my homeland with the support of my family and community.” She teaches kindergarten at the Kwiyagat Community Academy in Towaoc, Colorado and has been instrumental in the development and refinement of their school’s Graduate Profile and 5th Grade Graduate Capstone. Her work at the Kwiyagat Community Academy has resulted in valuable contributions to ensuring students within her community experience quality education as promised by the school’s mission that was dreamed by the members of her community.