Senior citizens and graduating high school seniors will be honored April 28 at the "Honor the Elders" program sponsored by the Las Vegas Indian Center.

The event, which includes dinner, an awards presentation, entertainment, and a silent auction, is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Thomas & Mack Center board room at UNLV. Tickets are $35 per person and are available at the Las Vegas Indian Center, 2300 W. Bonanza Rd.

In Native American culture, elders are the teachers and carriers of wisdom and are held in high esteem.

"Young people without elders to guide and teach them would be considered `poor,' " said Richard Arnold, executive director of the Indian Center. "Just as older people without younger people to care for them and give them recognition they deserve are also `poor.' "

A "wealth" of character will be evident during the program, which will salute elders for contributions such as community service, role-modeling, and education, Arnold said. Many Native American businesses have donated art pieces for the silent auction.

The Indian Center, Southern Nevada's largest non-profit organization serving the Native American community, is looking for sponsors to underwrite portions of the "Honor the Elders" program. Proceeds from the event will be used to support programs which prevent families from breaking up and which encourage families to reach their full potential.

For additional information, call Sharon Chayra, public relations coordinator for the center, at 376-1354.