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.

 


2025-2026 Scholarship Awardees

The WIGA Scholarship Program is pleased to announce it has awarded more than $160,000 to 63 students for the 2025-26 academic year. Congratulations to this year’s recipients!

 

Associate/Technical School Awardees

Davian Adams, Colville Confederated Tribes, Spokane Community College

Dyani Billy, Yakama Nation, Yakima Valley College

Daemien Conway, Colville Confederated Tribes, Spokane Community College

Sara Dresen, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Northwest Indian College

Cheyanne Helms, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Evergeen Beauty College

Roseann Hoskins-Olsen, Quileute Nation, Peninsula College

Alfredo Labro, Colville Confederated Tribes, Wenatchee Valley College

Tamela Laclair, Skokomish Tribe, South Puget Sound Community College

Lucinda Nieves, Quinault Nation, Clark College

Brandon Pino, Colville Confederated Tribes, Northwest Indian College

Wade Qualtier, Colville Confederated Tribes, Montana Technical University

Andrew Tageant-Wesley, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Northwest Indian College

 

Undergraduate Awardees

Coralise Almojera, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Northwest Indian College

Oceana Aguirre, Makah Tribe, University of Washington

Allyson Baker, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Arizona State University

Branndi Bowechop, Makah Tribe, Seattle University

Grace Buzzell, Makah Nation, Stanford University

Makyah Chambers, Makah Tribe, Tacoma Community College/South Puget Sound CC

Aaliyah Chappell, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, University of Washington

Violette Corwin-Capoeman, Quinault Nation, Evergreen State College

Mackenzie Crow, Suquamish Tribe, Washington State University

Lily-Rose Day, Samish Nation, University of Washington

Colby Elvrum, Makah Nation, University of Washington

Olivia George, Suquamish Tribe, University of Washington

Zelby Gloria, Lower Elwha Klallam, Central Washington University

Gina Graham, Colville Confederated Tribes, Salish Kootenai College

Jaden Halttunen, Makah Tribe, University of Washington

Christina Hoekstra, Makah Tribe, Northwest Indian College

Kyia Honanie, Yakama Nation, Washington State University

Roan Howard, Tlingit, Stanford University

Ava Lynn Jim, Colville Confederated Tribes, Washington State University

Mary Johnson, Makah Tribe, Peninsula College

Elijah Lachester, Makah Tribe, Evergreen State College

Maleah Markishtum, Makah Tribe, University of Washington Bothell

Shaela McGee, Makah Tribe, University of Washington

Kayce Palmer-Ankney, Colville Confederated Tribes, Eastern Washington University

Shaleigha Payne Williams, Quileute Nation, Seattle University

Nizhoni Price, Port Gamble S’Klallam, University of Washington

Kevin Smartlowit, Yakama Nation, Western Governors University

Ashton Purser, Suquamish Tribe, Washington State University

Isabella Ramirez, Quinault Nation, University of Southern California or Stanford University

Reid Russin, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, University of Washington

Nevalynn Salazar, Yakama Nation, Salish Kootenai College

Camden Shaver, Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, Washington State University

Sierra Spencer, Yakama Nation, Northwest Indian College

Kelli Tonasket, Colville Confederated Tribes, Northwest Indian College

Kah-Ty Natrall, First Nations, Western Washington University

Sage Watt, Colville Confederated Tribes, Eastern Washington University/Washington State University

Shilaily Woodruff, Quileute Nation, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Jacelyn Yearout-Dionne, Yakama Nation, Eastern Washington University

 

Graduate Awardees

Kylee Butler, Makah Tribe, University of Washington

Shane DePoe, Makah Tribe, University of Puget Sound

Cheebo Frazier, Nisqually Tribe, University of Washington

Estabon Hayes, Spokane Tribe, Eastern Washington University

Clela Machado, Makah Nation, University of Washington

Dallin Mansfield, Yakama Nation, Utah Valley University

Bunni Peterson-Haitwas, Skokomish Tribe, The Evergreen State College

Erica Mendez, Quinault Nation, University of Wisconsin School of Law

Daisy Minthorn, Yakama Nation, University of Oklahoma

Betty Pacheco, Nisqually Tribe, University of Washington

Tleena Ives, Port Gamble S’Klallam, University of Washington

Haley Smith, Makah Tribe, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Ananiapum Young, Yakama Nation, Gonzaga University School of Law