Cultural identity is said to be a strong indicator of American Indian persistence and academic performance in college. The more students are immersed in their language and culture, the better they achieve academically, socially, and economically. The program provides Native youth with an understanding of the uniqueness and diversity found among the American Indian population. Native students are encouraged and prepared to be active community problem-solvers.

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​We are proud of our students who have gone through AIR Programs, as many are active in their Native communities. Students have gone on to become nurses, law enforcement officials, tribal council members, and more. These students have also been accepted and have gone on to colleges like SDSU, CSUSM, UCSD, UC Davis, Brandeis University, Stanford, Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, and many more. Our program continues to flourish as we teach Native youth using a philosophy of learning and teaching through culture. Mentoring provides our Native students with the tools and resources to pursue higher education. Despite the barriers, Native students struggle with, and we continue to prepare our students to achieve success in higher education.