Indigenous student finds strength and community at Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Some people find strength in books. Others in friends. But Kayla Cwalina found hers on winding roads, in hospital gowns and ultimately, on the stage on commencement day at Penn State.

The Parma, Ohio, native and spring 2025 graduate was the first in her family to attend college. She and her younger sister, herself a Penn State student, have Lakota (Cheyenne River) heritage on their father’s side.

Penn State wasn’t just a university to Cwalina, she said, but a place that had always been part of her life. She had attended the Penn State Powwow with her family for years, and that connection made the campus feel like a natural fit. She said she appreciated the opportunity to grow independently while staying close enough to home to keep her roots intact.

That said, the lack of Indigenous representation at the University was hard for her to ignore at first. “It was disheartening,” she said.

Thankfully, a Native American History class introduced her to peers and mentors who would become instrumental to her journey, she said. Through this experience, Cwalina joined the Indigenous Peoples’ Student Association, eventually serving as its president and event planner.

It was more than a club, but a home away from home, she said. She helped establish Penn State’s first Indigenous Peoples’ Day and advocated for visibility and inclusion on campus.

Cwalina’s academic path combined her curiosity about the justice system with a passion for helping others. She double-majored in criminology and rehabilitation and human services, with minors in psychology, sociology, and addictions and recovery.

At one point, she said, she considered stepping away from criminology. Instead, she deepened her understanding by focusing on the human side of justice, particularly how rehabilitation can play a role in systems often centered around punishment.

Several professors helped shape her thinking, especially those who encouraged real-world learning, Cwalina said. Whether it was former Penn State faculty member Julie Reed’s approach to Native American history or the thoughtful structure of Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology David Ramey’s juvenile justice course, she saw how theory could become action. Associate Teaching Professor of Criminology Lecinda Yevchak’s courses also left a lasting impact, she said, particularly when navigating difficult moments.

One of those moments came when Cwalina was selected as a peer career intern with Penn State Career Services. She supported students with resumes, cover letters and interviews, but the role became far more meaningful when she helped with a career readiness program at SCI Benner Township. She said that experience, made possible through the Restorative Justice Initiative, showed her the practical impact of career development inside the justice system, and confirmed that her goals were not only possible but necessary.

Still, she said, no class or internship could have prepared her for what came next.

During move-in week at the start of her fourth year, Cwalina took her motorcycle out for a ride. A patch of gravel on a country road changed everything. She lost control and crashed head-on into a logging semi. She remained conscious, called her mother immediately and was airlifted to UPMC Altoona for emergency surgery.

She suffered a broken femur, wrist and scapula, as well as a puncture wound in her ankle. The physical recovery was just the beginning. After weeks in rehab, she faced the emotional and academic strain of trying to keep up with her final year of college.

Against advice to take time off, she chose to finish her coursework virtually. She said her professors stepped up with accommodations and support.

“The crash changed everything,” she said. “But I was determined to finish. That goal was all I could see.”

Cwalina’s tenacity paid off. Despite missing the internship deadline due to the accident, she fought for an exception and got it. By spring, she was back on campus using a walker, balancing physical therapy with coursework, while battling fatigue and anxiety. An MRI later revealed a torn gluteus tendon in her hip, which required a second surgery after graduation.

Still, she made the Dean’s List both semesters. She walked across the stage at commencement in May — one of only four Indigenous students to graduate from the University this year, and the only one from the College of the Liberal Arts.

“Crossing that stage was a statement,” Cwalina said. “That we’re here. That we’re capable. That we matter.”

Looking back, she said, one of her proudest accomplishments wasn’t just earning two degrees and three minors. It was seeing her younger sister grow and thrive on the same campus that had challenged and shaped her. That shared experience made the long nights and tough days worth it, she said.

Right now, Cwalina said, she is focused on healing. She’s using this time to rest, explore career paths in the justice system and consider graduate school. A master’s or doctorate in criminology is on her radar.

When asked what she would tell other Indigenous students, Cwalina's answer was clear: "Speak up. Advocate. Don’t let 'no' be the final word."

And her advice to everyone?

"Don’t wait for life to slow down," she said. "Ask for help when you need it. Lean into what makes you different. And when things fall apart, rebuild with care."