Jazmyne Torres of Stone Child College

Jazmyne Torres is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree and is a student at Stone Child College (SCC). After moving back home from Tucson, Arizona, she decided to completely change her life. Jazmyne has been sober for almost four years, and that choice is a huge part of why she’s able to be where she is today. Coming home to the Rocky Boy community opened the door for Jazmyne to attend SCC, reconnect with her identity, and accomplish things she never thought were possible.

Over the past three years at SCC, Jazmyne earned a studio arts associate’s degree in May 2025, and is continuing on to complete an Associate of Applied Science in Native American art with an emphasis on Chippewa Cree art. She is also pursuing a certificate in Native American art and will be earning an associate’s degree in liberal arts, graduating in the spring of 2026. These programs helped Jazmyne grow as an artist and as a person. Through classes in beadwork, ribbon skirts, sewing, quilting, and cultural design, she found a deeper connection to her tribe, her creativity, and her purpose.

Jazmyne has also been very involved on campus. In student leadership, she helped organize workshops, cultural activities, an art show, and a ribbon skirt walk. She loved being part of something that brought students together and gave them space to express their creativity. In 2024, she was honored to receive the student of the year award, which meant so much because it showed how far she had come in her personal life, sobriety, and in education. During this journey, life brought Jazmyne incredible blessings, too. She explains, “I welcomed my daughter, Alyna, in December 2024, and I married my husband, Alexander Nguyen, on April 19, 2025. Balancing college, leadership roles, motherhood, and marriage hasn’t been easy, but it has taught me strength, patience, and resilience. Staying sober throughout these chapters has helped me stay focused, grounded, and committed to my goals.”

AIHEC and SCC programs have supported Jazmyne every step of the way, helping her succeed academically while also growing personally and culturally. Education is important to Jazmyne because it’s the foundation for the future she’s building. Her long-term dream is to open a hair/studio arts space in the Box Elder or in the Rocky Boy community, a place where beauty, culture, and creativity come together. She wants it to be a space where people feel welcome, supported, and connected to their identity. She wants to use her skills, sobriety journey, and education to make a difference and to inspire others, especially young Native mothers and artists.

Jazmyne is proud of how far she’s come, and she’s grateful for SCC, AIHEC, her instructors, family, and community for believing in her. “My story shows that healing and reconnecting with my culture can transform your life,” she says. “With determination, creativity, and pride in where I come from, I’ve been able to build a new future for myself—one filled with hope and purpose.”