July 18, 2022
Since 2008, the Washington Indian Gaming Association (WIGA) Scholarship Program has awarded more than $1 million to Native American and Alaska Native students* pursuing bachelor’s and graduate college or university degrees, as well as degrees from community and technical colleges. These awards promote tribal self-sufficiency by advancing student potential and broadening higher education opportunities.
The WIGA Scholarship Program awarded $70,000 to 26 students for the 2022-23 academic school year. Congratulations to this year’s awardees:
Community/Trade/Technical Colleges Scholarship Winners
- Coralise Almojera, Nooksack Indian Tribe
Behavioral Health/Chemical Dependency, Northwest Indian College
Community/Trade/Technical Colleges Scholarship Renewal Winners
- Tabitha Herda, Makah Tribe
Nursing, Peninsula College
Undergraduate Program Scholarship Winners
- Branndi Bowechop, Makah Tribe
Nursing, Seattle University - Talia Kallappa, Makah Tribe
Communications and Film, University of Washington/Dartmouth - Robert Richardson Jr., Makah Tribe
Environmental Science, Washington State University - Jayde Smith, Squaxin Island Tribe
Teaching, St. Martins University
Undergraduate Scholarship Renewal Winners
- Vanessa Ankney, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Fine Arts, Washington State University - Grace Buzzell, Makah Tribe
Earth Studies, Stanford University - Raven Clark, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Education and Communications, Gonzaga University - Jessica Day, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Environmental Studies, University of Washington - Lily Rose Day, Samish Tribe
Global Relations, University of Washington - Rylee Desautel, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Accounting, Eastern Washington University - Laila Greene, Makah Tribe
Environmental Science & Resource Management, University of Washington - Mishani Jack-Gonzalez, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
Psychology, Washington State University - Krista Marchand, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
English and Language Arts Teach, University of Montana-Western - Anthony Martinez, Makah Tribe
Economics, University of Notre Dame - Javier Ramirez, Quinault Indian Nation
Computer Science, University of Oregon - Amaria Rosado, Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
Law, Societies, and Justice, University of Washington - Frances Ward, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
Nursing, Washington State University - Shilaily Woodruff, Quileute Tribe
Business-Entrepreneurship. University of Hawaii
Graduate Program Scholarship Winners
- Bunni Peterson Haitwas, Skokomish Tribe
MPA Tribal Governance, Evergreen State College - Evan Rhoades, Quinault Indian Nation
Creative Writing, University of Saint Thomas - Haley Smith, Makah Tribe
MPH Indigenous Health, Johns Hopkins or University of Hawaii
Graduate Program Scholarship Renewal Winners
- Landon Charlo, Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Nation
Educational Psychology, Washington State University - Dane Sequoia, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education, Washington State University - Emma Johnson, Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Anthropology, Portland State University
*WIGA Scholarship Program applicants must be enrolled members of Washington’s 29 federally recognized tribes, or American Indian/Alaska Native students enrolled in a federally recognized tribe who are attending school in Washington State.