Native American students — a history of many firsts at UCR

Since UC Riverside first opened its doors in 1954, Native history has been an integral part of the campus. UCR sits on land where the Cahuilla, Tongva, Luiseño, and Serrano peoples once resided. Rupert Costo (Cahuilla) and Jeannette Henry Costo (Cherokee) were instrumental in bringing a UC campus to the area. Now UCR celebrates a series of "first" accomplishments, all which came to fruition by grassroots efforts led by students, staff, faculty, and community support. At the center of campus is Native American Student Programs, or NASP, which opened in 1980.