For the past three years, the American Indian College Fund has awarded $500 to an outstanding instructor at each of the 37 tribal colleges in North America. Bob Jourdain, who has taught English and Ojibwe at Leech Lake Tribal College since 1996, has been named the College's 2008 Faculty Member of the Year.

Jourdain's humble spirit, his respect for others, his sense of humor, and his ability to adapt to the organizational changes that so often characterize tribal colleges have won the admiration and respect of both students and staff at LLTC.

Recently, Jourdain completed the course work and thesis required for a Master of Arts degree in English at Bemidji State University ; he expects to defend his thesis before a university committee later this summer.