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Alum Aspires to be Principal Chief of Cherokee Tribe

Cory Blankenship, political science '07, is an active member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and hopes to one day serve as Principal Chief.

Only three Cherokee tribes are recognized by the federal government, and one NC State alum hopes one day to serve his people as Principal Chief. Cory Blankenship, political science ’07, is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He continues to integrate his roots into his life work as he studies for his Master of Jurisprudence in Federal Indian Law at the University of Tulsa College of Law.

Blankenship serves as Tribal reasurer and is the former director of programs for the Cherokee Historical Association. “My personal mission and path are forged with the values of dedicated work, integrity, perseverance, and vision, instilled and reinforced by family and community,” says Blankenship. His education and experience as a student at NC State have helped prepare him to serve his tribal community.

Read more about Cory Blankenship on NC State’s Park Scholarships news site.