Native Students Scholarship Awardees
Justina Hunter & Family
Tule River Indian Tribe of California
Porterville College
2022-2023 Academic Year Awardee
Cheyenne Dakota Morales & Family
Comanche
Bakersfield College Psychology & Sociology
2024-2025 Academic Year Awardee
Natalie Deanda & Family
Confederated Tribes of Siletz
Arizona State University Master’s Program
2022-2023 Academic Year Awardee
Jordan Clark & Family
North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California
Fresno State University Anthropology & American Indian Studies
2024-2025 Academic Year Awardee
Shane Lara & Family
Natchitoches Tribe of Louisiana
Fresno State University American Indian Program
2023-2024 Academic Year Awardee
Anessa Rocha & Family
North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California
Fresno State University Health Science Administration
2023-2024 Academic Year Awardee
Why we launched the Native Students Scholarship
In 2022, the Sebastian Family Foundation launched a scholarship opportunity for Native college and vocational students as an effort to increase access to quality education, educational opportunities, and to increase the rate of graduation. There is so much talent in Native communities. This scholarship fund recognizes that talent and seeks to dismantle the oppressive forces which stifle it.
Educational Access & Completion
One area of oppression comes through systemic hurdles to accessing quality education and completing higher education and vocational programming for Native youth and young adults.
“I (Dr. Vélez Young) was gifted mentoring, money, and encouragement throughout my educational goals from people who barely knew me. Today, no matter the pains we face, our family has been very fortunate. We understand that the ancestors have given us so much and ask for us to keep serving in new and innovative ways.”