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