Denver — Among the “ordinary Americans” featured at last night’s Democratic National Convention were a college student and the president of the United Tribes Technical College.

The president, David Gipp, said he supported Barack Obama for including tribal nations in his vision for the future of the country.

He also urged the audience to “look to the nation’s 37 tribal colleges and universities to lead the way in renewing the promise for American Indians.”

“These institutions provide tribal citizens with the skills they need to be vital contributors to society and to our culture,” he said. “Tribal colleges are a key to the renaissance in American Indian life as we save our languages and rebuild over 550 tribal nations.”

The conventioneers also heard from Katherine Marcano, a 23-year-old college student from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who is the guardian for a 17-year-old sister with cerebral palsy.

Ms. Marcano, who also was temporarily displaced by the Iowa floods this summer, said she believes Senator Obama understands the real problems that voters face.