For the Reporter

The Muckleshoot Tribe surprised retiring Auburn School District administrators Kip Herren and Tim Cummings with gifts at a recent Native American promotion and graduation ceremony.

Herren, the district superintendent, and Cummings, the associate superintendent of human resources, are retiring.

Virginia Cross, tribal chair, presented each of them with an honor blanket and beaded eagle feather to thank them for their service to Muckleshoot children during their long careers in the school district.

Willard Bill Jr., tribal culture program director, reiterated the support of Herren and Cummings to native education, then led the Muckleshoot Canoe Family in an honor song.

More than 340 people attended the event, celebrating 36 fifth-graders and 52 eighth-graders graduating to the next level of school. Forty-two Native American high school graduates also were celebrated.