What You Need to Know About the WIGA Scholarship Program
About
The Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA) Scholarship Program provides scholarships to Native American and Alaska Native students pursuing opportunities in higher education. Awards generally range from $900 to $3,000 for each academic year. Since its inception, the WIGA Scholarship Program has awarded more than $1.1 million in scholarships.
To learn more, view the WIGA Scholarship Program playlist on Youtube.
Application Requirements
Applicants must be:
- Enrolled members of one of Washington’s 29 federally recognized tribes
or - American Indian/Alaska Native students enrolled in a federally recognized tribe who are attending or plan to attend a higher education institution in the state of Washington.
Applicants may be pursuing degrees at community and technical colleges, four-year colleges, or post-graduate and professional schools.
The application period for the 2025-2026 school year is closed.
Contact
Questions? Contact Rosina DePoe at 360-352-3248 or deputy@washingtonindiangaming.org.
2024-2025 Scholarship Awardees
The WIGA Scholarship Program is pleased to announce it has awarded more than $150,000 to 53 students for the 2024-25 academic year. Congratulations to this year’s recipients!
Associate/Technical School Awardees
Savanna Charles, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Bates Technical College
Sheadan Heemsah, Yakama Nation, Academy of Equine Dentistry
Christina Hoekstra, Makah Nation, Northwest Indian College
Jennifer James, Makah Nation, Clover Park Technical College
Mariah Javier, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Northwest Indian College
Nicole Johnson, Makah Nation, Peninsula College
Laila Longshore-Smith, Skokomish Tribe, Northwest Indian College
Adam Mowitch, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, South Puget Sound Community College
Dominic Solomon, Lummi Nation, Bellingham Technical College
Kelli Tonasket, Colville Tribes, Northwest Indian College
Undergraduate Awardees
Branndi Bowechop, Makah Nation, Seattle University
Grace Buzzell, Makah Nation, Stanford University
Aaliyah Chappell, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, University of Washington
Lisa Cooper, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Northwest Indian College
Violette Corwin, Quinault Nation, Seattle University
Mackenzie Crow, Suquamish Tribe, Washington State University
Lily-Rose Day, Samish Nation, University of Washington
Mataya George, Suquamish Tribe, University of California-Santa Barbara
Olivia George, Suquamish Tribe, University of Washington
Zelby Gloria, Lower Elwha Klallam, Central Washington University
Gina Graham, Colville Tribes, Salish Kootenai College
Jessica Greene, Makah Nation, Skagit Valley College
Kailand Halstead, Quinault Nation, Oregon State University
Cheyanne Helms, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Yakima Valley College
Julia Hommel, Suquamish Tribe, Northwest Indian College
Kyia Honanie, Yakama Nation, Western Washington University or Yakima Valley College
Roan Howard, Tlingit, Stanford University
Cedar Johnson, Makah Nation, Western Washington University
Dinesha Kane, Tulalip Tribes, University of Washington or University of Arizona
Anthony Martinez, Makah Nation, University of Notre Dame
Shaleigha Payne Williams, Quileute Nation, Seattle University
Nizhoni Price, Port Gamble S’Klallam, University of Washington
Amaria Rosado, Chehalis Tribe, University of Washington
Nevalynn Salazar, Yakama Nation, Salish Kootenai College
Cayden Smith, Makah Nation, Washington State University
Colby Elvrum, Makah Nation, University of Washington
Kaela Tyler, Makah Nation, Skagit Valley College
Kah-Ty Natrall, First Nations, Western Washington University
Shilaily Woodruff, Quileute Nation, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Jacelyn Yearout-Dionne, Yakama Nation, Eastern Washington University
Andrew Zack Jr., Yakama Nation, Northwest Indian College
Graduate Awardees
Cheebo Frazier, Nisqually Tribe, University of Washington
Tleena Ives, Port Gamble S’Klallam, University of Washington
Clela Machado, Makah Nation, University of Washington
Kendall Mansfield, Yakama Nation, Bringham Young University
Erica Mendez, Quinault Nation, Seattle University School of Law
Daisy Minthorn, Yakama Nation, University of Oklahoma
Betty Pacheco, Nisqually Tribe, University of Washington
Kevin Simeon, Spokane Tribe, Columbia University
Jayde Smith, Squaxin Island Tribe, Gonzaga University
Haley Smith, Makah Nation, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Nizhoni Sutter, Navajo Nation, University of Washington School of Medicine
Ananiapum Young, Yakama Nation, Gonzaga University