Even as a new student, Zukai proudly danced and sang at St. Joseph’s 49th Annual Powwow.
Spend just a few minutes with seventh grader Zukai, and it might be hard to believe he has only been a student at St. Joseph’s Indian School for a little more than a year.
Ambitious, outgoing and kind, Zukai has quickly found his place on campus. Whether he is in the classroom, spending time with friends or competing on the field, he approaches each opportunity with enthusiasm.
Zukai first came to St. Joseph’s as a new student during the 2025-26 school year. With sisters who are St. Joseph’s alumni, he was already familiar with the school, but he wanted the chance to experience it for himself.
“I wanted to try it out,” Zukai said.
Of everything awaiting him on campus, he said he was most excited about one thing: meeting new people.
It didn’t take long for those new faces to become friends.
By the end of his first year, Zukai had made connections that made returning for seventh grade an easy decision. He wanted to come back because of the friendships he had formed and because he was excited to see everyone again.
Those relationships are just one piece of what Zukai enjoys about St. Joseph’s. When asked about his favorite part of attending school here, he answered quickly.
“The education, because I’m getting a lot out of it,” he said.
But for Zukai, life at St. Joseph’s extends even beyond the classroom.
Sports rank near the top of his list of favorite activities. Last year, he played on a winning softball team, an experience he remembers as being especially fun. This fall, he is spending his time on the football field, playing both tight end and linebacker.
Zukai had a blast being part of the Dodgers softball team and making memories with his teammates.
Besides sports, some of his other favorite memories were created in his campus home with his houseparents, Stephen and Robbie. Zukai said getting to know them was one of the highlights of his first year. Weekends were especially memorable.
“On weekends, we got to do so many fun things with them — like a bunch of different games,” he said.
One adventure stands out above the rest.
During a home trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota, Zukai and his home stayed in a cabin, went swimming and spent time sightseeing throughout the area. It was an experience filled with fun and time together.
Between school, sports, campus life and friendships, Zukai has made the most of his time at St. Joseph’s. And although he is only in seventh grade, he already has an idea of where he hopes life might take him someday.
He wants to become a police officer.
“It looks fun to keep people safe,” Zukai said.
His desire to help others aligns with the kind, outgoing personality he brings to campus each day.
Zukai also has advice for students who might be wondering what it’s like to attend St. Joseph’s.
“If you come to school at St. Joseph’s, you will get a better education than the school you are currently going to,” he said.
Zukai takes his education seriously, saying it is one of the biggest reasons he chooses to attend St. Joseph’s.
For a student who arrived only last year, wanting to “try it out,” Zukai has certainly embraced everything St. Joseph’s has to offer.
And when asked what truly makes St. Joseph’s special, Zukai’s answer came back to the very thing he was most excited about when he first arrived: the people.
“[St. Joseph’s] is special because of all the students who get to come here,” he said.
For Zukai, those students are no longer simply new people to meet.
They are now all thiyóšpaye — extended family — and St. Joseph’s has become a place where he feels right at home.
Read more about our mission and our school by visiting stjo.org.
