When Rusty looks back on her journey, she remembers a quiet, determined eighth grader at Loneman Elementary who simply “knew in my heart that I wanted to attend Red Cloud High School.” In the fall of 2014, she began her journey at Mahpiya Luta Owayawa, a place that would shape her not only academically, but personally and spiritually.
The transition was not easy. Moving to a larger school felt overwhelming. Rusty struggled to find her place and often kept to herself during her freshman year. The academic workload was also a challenge. “I struggled to find friends and fit in,” she recalls, “and academically, I had a hard time adjusting.” Instead of giving up, she reached out to counselors and teachers for support, which marked the beginning of her growth.
Everything began to shift when she joined the afterschool Handgames program. Through handgames, she found belonging, friendship, and community, forming close bonds with four girls she remains connected with today. That circle of support helped her finish her freshman year on a positive note, even as she navigated shyness and self-doubt.
Rusty’s greatest test came during her junior year. At the start of the year, she was on track academically, earning A’s and B’s and preparing for the ACT. But in September 2016, she received devastating news that her Uncle Gene had passed away. Her motivation disappeared. Then in March 2017, her grandfather’s cancer returned, and when he passed away on May 5, just weeks before the school year ended, she felt overwhelmed by grief.
“There was a time when I truly believed I might drop out,” she shares. Her attendance declined, assignments went unfinished, and final exams were taken without much effort. Yet even in that difficult time, Mahpiya Luta’s support system stepped in. After she and her sister explained their situation, the principal and counselors advocated for them and informed teachers so they could receive understanding and support.
A turning point came through the USD Upward Bound summer program. Staying engaged helped her rebuild confidence, and when she learned she had passed her junior year, she felt both surprised and grateful. “I knew my Uncle Gene and Grandpa Stacey would not have wanted me to give up on my future,” she reflects.
Her senior year began with hesitation about growing up and what would come next. A counselor and teacher gave her a wake-up call, reminding her that her future was in her hands. That moment pushed her to move forward with intention, and she committed to finishing strong.
Throughout Rusty’s time at Mahpiya Luta, teachers and mentors played a life-changing role. Handgames also became central to her high school experience. As seniors, her team, Yuwanzila, meaning “to unite together,” won nearly every TWO Handgames tournament that year. The most unforgettable victory came at the Lakota Nation Invitational High School Handgames tournament in 2017. After waiting six years for a win, claiming that championship during her senior year made the moment deeply meaningful.
After graduation, her next steps were uncertain. She briefly considered colleges farther from home, but nothing felt right. Encouraged by her sister, she chose Oglala Lakota College, a decision she now describes as finding where she belonged. Although it was not what she originally imagined, Oglala Lakota College provided the financial, academic, and cultural support she needed. She began as an undeclared major, but after being introduced to social work, she discovered her calling and set her goal of becoming a school guidance counselor and advocate for youth.
During her freshman year, she balanced full-time classes with full-time work through the AmeriCorps program as a teacher aide. It was challenging, but she persevered. Eventually she focused fully on her education, attending Oglala Lakota College full-time from 2019 to 2023.
In 2023, she returned to Mahpiya Luta, first as a substitute teacher and then as an AmeriCorps Academic Mentor. “This is where I knew I wanted to be,” Rusty says. Today she continues building her career around supporting youth and hopes to serve as a counselor and advocate within the same halls that once supported her.
Her accomplishments reflect both academic excellence and cultural commitment. She earned her A.A. degree in Lakota Studies in June 2024 and has consistently made the President’s List at Oglala Lakota College. She was crowned Miss Oglala Lakota College during the 2023–2024 academic year and received both the ShowTime Singers First Nations Scholarship and an American Indian College Fund Scholarship. In the 2025–2026 Miss He Sapa Win contest, she placed sixth overall and received the Best Public Speaking award, an especially meaningful recognition for someone who once described herself as introverted.
Beyond academics, she has served in student leadership for several years, including as Vice President at her home college center from 2019 to 2024 and currently as President. Handgames remain her greatest passion. At Oglala Lakota College, she continued competing through the American Indian Higher Education Consortium Student Conference, deepening her connection to culture and community. “Handgames is the place where I feel safest and most at peace,” she shares.
What Mahpiya Luta gave her extended far beyond academics. The school helped strengthen her Lakȟóta identity, language, and values while teaching her time management, discipline, and perseverance. Most importantly, it taught her to ask for help and to believe that she belonged.
In June 2026, Rusty plans to graduate with her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. She hopes to continue serving at Mahpiya Luta High School, giving back to the institution that believed in her when she struggled to believe in herself.
“No matter where life takes me,” she says, “my path will reflect the hard work I’ve put in and the support I received from Mahpiya Luta Owayawa, an institution that believed in me, valued me, and nurtured me not just as an employee, but as a person.”
Alumni Wisdom
Her advice to current students is simple: trust yourself and remember that you belong in every space you step into. Do not let fear or self-doubt stop you from trying, whether that means applying to college, asking for help, or speaking up for yourself. Stay grounded in your Lakota identity, language, and culture, especially when things feel overwhelming, because those teachings will guide you through the hardest moments. Most importantly, remember that your path is your own, and every step forward matters.
From a shy freshman searching for belonging to a college leader, mentor, and future social worker, Rusty Fast Wolf’s story is one of resilience, cultural pride, and coming home.