Student Scholarships
2020-2024 Virgil Masayesva Scholarship Recipients
Kayla Yazzie
Yá’át’ééh Kayla Yazzie, I am from St. Michaels, AZ, and Shiprock, NM. I attended a Catholic school for most of my childhood till high school, but I also grew up learning my traditional values from my grandparents, so it felt like a mix of two worlds. Growing up I have always remembered two life lessons that was taught by my grandparents which were the importance of our Mother Earth and my education. These two life lessons is what keeps me motivated, even today, and I look forward to continuing my education through a PhD program in the future.
Currently, I am now in my first year as a Master’s student at NAU in the Biological Sciences department. During my undergrad, I received my Bachelor’s degree at Fort Lewis College in Environmental Science. My current project for my MS thesis is focused on researching the microbiome of mycorrhizal fungi within tribal lands. I have always enjoyed being an Indigenous Scientist Woman, working in the STEM field and I look forward to the future research ahead.
Samuel Chischilly
I’m a 23-year-old male Native American from the Navajo tribe. I currently have my Bachelor’s degree in biology and am pursuing my Master’s degree in forestry. I hope to pursue a career in the Forest Service or in a National Park. I have always liked learning and helping the environment, trying to make things better than they are now or in the future.
Darren Olney
My name is Darren Olney, and I am a proud enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, located in south-central Washington State. I am currently a second-year graduate student in Northern Arizona University’s School of Earth and Sustainability, pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy.
My graduate research focuses on exploring the potential of biocrusts to reduce soil sediment accumulation, enhance soil stability, and improve nutrient cycling. My future aspiration is to apply the academic knowledge and research experience I’ve gained at NAU to benefit my community. Specifically, I aim to contribute to the Yakama Nation Natural Resource Program by developing comprehensive strategies to sustain and enhance the finite resources critical to our tribe’s well-being.
Amber Benally
Yá’át’ééh, shik’éí dóó shidine’é. Shí éí Amber Benally yinishyé. Tł’ízí lání nishłį́. Tódich’ii’nii bashishchiin. Kiisaanii dóó Naashtʼézhí dineʼé dashicheii. Kiyaa’áanii dashinalí. Ákót’éego, Diné Asdzáán nishłį́. Tó Naneesdizí déé’ naashá. Axhé’héé!
Amber Benally is originally from the community of Tó Naneesdizí (Tuba City, Arizona). She is working on a Master of Arts degree in Sustainable Communities. Amber grew up helping her grandmother haul coal from Black Mesa to heat their home in the winter. In 2016 during the occupation of Standing Rock, Amber was compelled to understand the toxic legacy of extraction in her own communities. This led Amber to pursue her current studies and work in conservation and environmental justice. Her goal is to work with communities to bring culturally rich and sustainable housing to the Navajo Nation. Additionally, she wants to build homes that prioritize regeneration to give back to the people, the environment, and other relations.
Ashley Hale
Ashley is a young Navajo woman, originally from Window Rock, AZ. She is currently attending her senior year at Northern Arizona University (NAU), where she majors in Psychological Sciences with a minor in Criminal Justice/Criminology. In addition, Ashley is a research assistant at NAU. Her research interests include addressing mental health, social, and environmental injustices within Native communities. In the future, she would like to assist in addressing and improving the wellbeing’s of the Navajo people.
Hanson Mike
Hanson Mike is Diné from Whippoorwill, Arizona. He is a Northern Arizona University student, in the School of Earth and Sustainability’s program for the Master of Science in Environmental Science & Policy. His goal is to use my research experience and passion for the environment to create solutions in water policy for Indigenous tribes and communities who seek to re-Indigenize water governance and stewardship of public lands and waters in the United States.
Joelle Mansfield
Joelle Mansfield is a member of the Hopi tribe, from the village of Sitsomovi and from the Water Clan. She has two children, 12 and 2, and a nephew who is 17. She is commuter student from the Winslow, AZ area while also working part time with the Hopi Three Canyon Ranches in Flagstaff, AZ. As an undergraduate student at Northern Arizona University, she is pursuing a degree in Geography, Environment, and Society with a minor in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) has not always been her strong suite; nonetheless she has always found the environment interesting. Hopi teachings and stories of creation as well as her job at the ranches has expanded her knowledge and understanding of various fields associated with the environment. Pursuing GIS is still a new aspect to some reservations. Her ideal job would be to help native communities understand the current environment with visuals and real data specific to a tribe.
Kirby Morris
Kirby Morris is a first year Master’s student at Northern Arizona University of Biological Sciences, where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Biology. She is the recipient of a Virgil Masayesva Scholarship, which has allowed her to engage in research on how climate change is affecting the fungal communities on Pinus edulis (pinyon-pine) trees in the southwest. Upon completion of her master’s studies, she intends to apply for a doctoral degree to further her knowledge of biology and progress toward a career as a researcher.
Mariessa Fowler
Mariessa Fowler is from Coppermine, Arizona and grew up on the Navajo reservation. As a first-generation student, she is in the third year in the Environmental Science program with an emphasis in policy and administration. She wants to continue her education and get a master’s degree within water policy. She wants to pursue a career with government-to-government communication, between tribal affairs and the US government regarding environmental protection and policy. She wants to work for the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and try to help indigenous tribes with communicating to the government.
Titus Bert
Titus Bert is a Dine (Navajo) from Pinon AZ from the community of Black Mesa in the Navajo Nation. Titus is a student at Northern Arizona University (NAU) and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in visual communication with an emphasis in Graphic Design. While pursuing his degree, Titus is the administrative student worker at ITEP (Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals) for both Financials and Climate Change. His goals as a Dine (Navajo) is to help and support environmental protection of Native American natural resources by using his graphic design knowledge and skills to create any designs that will create a message to both young and old, as the power of art is strong within the Dine (Navajo) as the culture with art is to be expressive in beauty and wants to be able to share his messages in an expressive matter to protect the lands environmentally to keep the beauty on the lands. His commitment to protect tribal natural resources is by helping and participating in the causes of the Navajo Aquifer in the Black Mesa region at Arizona while volunteering with the organization of To Nizhoni Ani, in whom, their mission “is to protect the water of Black Mesa from industry use and waste.” As they work to bring power back to our Indigenous communities impacted by coal. He is glad and happy to help any tribes that need support of environmental protection of natural resources as these lands is our identity.
Zachary Beaver
Zachary Beaver a Navajo from Ganado, AZ is majoring in Civil Engineering. As a Civil/ Environmental Engineering major, and an Indigenous student, he feels it is important to protect natural resources for Native Nations.
Brooke Damon
Brooke Damon is currently a junior at Northern Arizona University working towards a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She is looking forward to continuing with a master’s degree after graduating. After completing her studies, she hopes to use her education to give back to the communities on the Navajo Nation that her family has called home for years. She plans to make a difference in tribal efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to give a voice to those who are often forgotten.
Chelsie Fowler
Chelsie Fowler is a young Navajo woman who is currently attending Northern Arizona University, studying to become an Environmental Engineer. She is originally from Chilchinbeto, AZ and graduated top of her class from Monument Valley High School at Kayenta, AZ. She was able to attend NAU with a few scholarships that has allowed her to continue with her studies. Academically, graduating from NAU is one of her major educational goals in life because she is a first-generation college student and is aiming to become a professional in her chosen career field, so that she can offer her assistance to where the need is greatest, such as the Navajo Nation.
Jared Begay
Jared Begay is a young Navajo man, who lives in a small rural town,Tsaile, AZ, in the middle of the Navajo Nation. He believes his agricultural background and a strong Navajo-cultural ethic passed down to him by his family for the sacred life of the trees and the connection they share with Mother Earth has carved a deep passion for him to be a steward of the forest lands. Once he earns his bachelor’s degree in Forestry, he would like to apply for graduate school to pursue a higher education with a Master’s in Science. He would love to study the cultural significance that the study of forestry offers to the Navajo people. In the future, he would like to see the integration of ecological restoration and cultural management practices within the forest on the Navajo Nation. He anticipates developing a Forest, Land & Range conservation plan to help maintain the forested areas, and the rangelands of the Navajo Nation.
Joshua Wilson
Joshua Wilson, a mechanical engineering student at Northern Arizona University, is continuing his education after 8 years of service in the United States Marine Corps. He is currently researching the air quality around his home because of concerns about pollution from a major highway nearby. During his service in the military, he was exposure to exhaust fumes from diesel equipment among other various pollutants. He believes these exposures exacerbated his asthma. Fearing that his chosen residence may be exposing his children to exhaust fumes from a highway as well as other family members on the reservation also living near significant travel avenues, he is gathering particulate data both inside and outside of his home to understand environmental hazards better. Joshua plans on using this data to create effective means of combating air pollution at home to protect his partner, his children, and his family.
Karis Black
Karis Black is a member of the Navajo Nation and a current sophomore at Northern Arizona University pursuing a degree in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Climate. Karis Black has conducted lab and fieldwork in the Navajo Nation to research heavy metal contamination in living organisms in Cove, Arizona where she quantified uranium concentrations in local plants and sheep. She has also worked with the Cocopah tribe from Yuma, Arizona to improve and monitor the air and water quality. In the future, she plans to pursue a master’s degree and research paleoclimate within samples of lake sedimentation. She enjoys working closely with tribes and wishes to continue doing so while focusing on environmental issues.
Wilda Anagal
Wilda Anagal is Diné, originally from Black Mesa, Arizona. She is of the Bitter Water clan and born for the Black Sheep clan. Wilda received her Bachelor of Sciences in Environmental Science followed by her Professional Science of Masters in Climate Science and Solutions from Northern Arizona University. She is a current PhD student at Northern Arizona University in the Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability program. Wilda has a strong interest in supporting tribal communities in protecting their natural resources and environment. She plans to continue to support the on-going efforts to ensure a just and equitable energy transition for Indigenous communities while tailoring her research to studying the social and economic impacts of energy transitions.
Marissa Mares
Marissa is from Shiprock, New Mexico and is currently attending Northern Arizona University as a graduate student in the Sustainable Communities program. Her research focuses on investigating the uranium contamination found in the plant community that have been disturbed by uranium mining and the resulting abandoned uranium mines in Cove, Arizona. Moving forward she hopes to continue her education to become a botanist, with the skills she is learning now and will build on in the future, she hopes that this research will contribute to the reclamation and phytoremediation efforts on the Navajo Nation.
Brandee Keyonnie
Brandee Keyonnie, a current Junior at Northern Arizona University, is studying towards a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Chemistry and a minor in Sustainability. After earning a bachelor’s degree in this field she plans to continue at Northern Arizona University to earn a master’s degree in Environmental Science. Her ultimate goal is to help transition the Navajo Nation to receive their energy through renewable resources (wind,solar, and biomass) rather than non renewable resources (oil, coal, natural gases, and nuclear) so that Navajo Nation is creating less pollution and is no longer sending less workers into mines where they are exposed to harmful chemicals. Brandee plans to work in a field environment and test soil and water around the Navajo Nation and ensure it is safe for the people, livestock, plants, and food that they grow. She wants to able to help protect the people of the Navajo Nation and our Mother Earth.
Priscilla Kee
Priscilla is a member of the Navajo Tribe. She is originally from Klagetoh, AZ. She is of the Big Water clan born for the Honey Combed Rock People Clan. She is currently pursuing her American Indigenous Studies, Indian Country Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science degree. Priscilla has an interest in both tribal government as well as Federal Indian Law. She hopes to one day become an advocate or a consultant with organizations to educate others about the legal system. Ms. Kee has a great interest in understanding the tribal government and hopes to one day return to her community where she can be a voice for her people, especially, the Dine Elders. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree, Ms. Kee would like to enter a Master’s Program and perhaps obtain a Law in Degree, eventually.
Jared Begay
Jared Begay is a young Navajo man, who resides in a small rural town called Tsaile, AZ, in the heart of the Navajo Nation. He believes his agricultural background and a strong Navajo-cultural compassion passed down to him by his family for the sacred life of a tree and the connection it shares with Mother Earth has carved a deep passion for him to be a steward of the forest lands and to pursue a degree in Forestry at the Northern University of Arizona. Once he earns his Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, he will apply for a job as a Restoration Ecologist under the Navajo Nation Forestry Department. His goal after he gets his degree is to write a grant to help fund a Forest / Land & Range conservation plan to help maintain the forested areas, and the rangelands of the Navajo communities.
Siigrid Lii’bilNaghahi
Siigrid a member of the Navajo tribe, is currently attending her sophomore year at Northern Arizona University (NAU). At NAU, she majors in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Studio Arts. After earning a bachelor’s degree, she plans on continuing her education at the University of Pennsylvania to earn a medical degree in Orthopedic Surgery. Her ultimate goal is to improve the medical care and the quality of hospitals in Native American communities.
Michael Jordan
Michael is a student at Northern Arizona University (NAU) with a focus on wildlife management and forest management. With a decade of experience in firefighting, he brings a knowledge of eye-witness accounts of the effects of wildfires on different species, animals, and soil, as well as the environment in general. His vision emphasizes the environment with a connection and responsibility as a Native American to protect Mother Earth.
Tisheena S. Talk
Tisheena is a Navajo from Shiprock, New Mexico. She is currently attending Northern Arizona University (NAU) on the Flagstaff, Arizona campus. At NAU, she majors in Biology with a Wildlife Management emphasis. In the future, she would like to assist in protecting natural resources on the Navajo Nation. Her vision includes that the Navajo Nation is a safe place to reside – with fresh air quality, healthy plant life and sufficient or abundant clean water resources for all living Beings. In her career, she plans to apply Tribal Ecological Knowledge (TEK) as part of her stewardship.
Shanya Whitehorse
Shanya comes from Aneth, Utah, the northern part of the Navajo Nation. She is a Environmental Engineer major at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Her goal of becoming an engineer came from living on the reservation where oil drilling is an economic support and a part of everyday life, as her grandparents and community struggled from contaminated soil, water and air daily. This has motivated her to get her degree to protect not only her community, but Indian Country from the environmental effects such as pollution to improve the environmental quality.
CONNECT WITH US
Mehrdad Khatibi
Co-Director
Mehrdad.Khatibi@nau.edu
Nikki Cooley
Co-Director
Nikki.Cooley@nau.edu
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