November's Meet a Mustang: Keya Hunt ' 22

During the second week in November, we sat down with Breck student-athlete Keya Hunt ‘22 to get to know her better. 

How many years have you been at Breck?
I started in preschool. This is my 13th year at Breck.

What are you involved in at Breck? 
I am part of the Robotics Club, two different coding clubs, and Varsity Volleyball.

What is your favorite class at Breck?
I really like my art class with Ms. Sagar.

Best memory at Breck?
I still remember in Lower School when the teachers performed Thriller at the Halloween Parade in 2012.

What is a meaningful experience you have had at Breck?
The courage retreat in 8th grade was a meaningful experience. We did different activities and each classmate shared something deep about themselves. The courage retreat was meaningful because I was able to see a different side of my classmates and get to know them better.

What does your Native American heritage mean to you?
I am from the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, Oglala Lakota, and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. My Native American heritage means to me that I have a very close knit community that is full of art, culture, and a love for the land. 

What are some special ways you and your family connect with your Native American heritage?
Both of my parents are American Indian, and we live our culture everyday in accordance with our values. One special experience that connects me with my heritage is when I received my Indian name a few years ago. The naming ceremony was very important to me and my siblings. My family and I also pray to our creator on a daily basis, and this act cultivates in me a personal worldview that promotes my health and well-being. Another activity that I do regularly is to smudge (burn sage), this act helps me center myself. I also really enjoy beadwork, which is something that I learned from my mother. Including all of these traditions in my daily life builds in me pride for my tribal nations and gratitude for all of the wonderful gifts my ancestors passed along for me to succeed in today's world and into the future.

What is a goal you hope to achieve after graduating Breck?
I want to play volleyball in college. 

What accomplishment(s) are you personally proud of?
I am proud to be a student-athlete who plays volleyball. I have put in hard work to balance school, friendships, and my commitment to the team. It has been great to be a part of the volleyball team at Breck and to excel playing volleyball on my Junior Olympics (JO) team.

You can watch the Breck Volleyball Team in action tonight (11/12) at 6:00 P.M. versus Mounds Park Academy here.