NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Twenty Native American students are heading to college thanks to a special scholarship opportunity. The New Mexico Gas Company has been awarding the scholarships since 2011, and they are available to students in traditional bachelor’s and graduate degree programs.
The gas company says the $3,000 scholarship provides flexibility for students because it can be used for any education-related expenses, not just tuition. Students at this year’s banquet say they were thrilled to head into higher education so they can give back to their community.
“I really want to give back to my Native communities. I am pursuing a degree in nursing, and I later want to pursue a Master’s Degree in public health so that I can build capacity in our Native communities, so we can strengthen our infrastructure, so we have lots of sustainability,” says Margaret Quintana, 2025 NASP recipient who will be attending UNM.
“It’s critically important to the future of young Native American children with such a lack of resources in many cases and a lack of doors that create opportunities for them to pursue careers, to pursue higher levels of education. These programs provide those pathways,” says Notah Begay III, Founder of NB3 Foundation and NBC golf commentator.
The following students won scholarships:
- Kaden Bee, Kirtland, Navajo Nation, attending San Juan College to study engineering.
- Sarah Begay, Brimhall, N.M., Navajo Nation, attending Navajo Technical University to study applied sciences and biology.
- Shiloh Conn, Red Valley, Ariz., Navajo Nation, attending University of Connecticut at Hartford to study criminal law.
- Mya Fragua, Acoma Pueblo, attending New Mexico State to study nursing.
- Wacey Jodie, Albuquerque, Navajo Nation, attending University of New Mexico to study civil engineering.
- McKenzie Johnson, Rio Rancho, Navajo Nation, attending University of New Mexico to study business administration and accounting.
- Gabriella Jojola, Albuquerque, Isleta Pueblo, attending New Mexico State to study nursing.
- Kassidy Jones, Gallup, Navajo Nation, attending Onandaga Community College to study kinesiology.
- Tatum Lantana, Bloomfield, Navajo Nation, attending Texas Tech to study kinesiology.
- Norlyn Lowden, Acoma Pueblo, attending University of New Mexico to study nursing.
- Preston Lujan, Taos Pueblo, attending New Mexico State to study aerospace engineering.
- Daija Martinez, Mescalero Apache, attending New Mexico State to study nursing.
- Brooke Nez, Pinehill, Navajo Nation, attending Carthage College to study nursing.
- Aaron Pino, El Paso, Acoma Pueblo, attending Indiana Institute of Technology to earn a Master of Science in cybersecurity.
- Whitney Platero, Bloomfield, Navajo Nation, attending San Juan College to study mortuary science.
- Margaret Quintana, Santo Domingo Pueblo and Cochiti Pueblo, attending University of New Mexico to study nursing.
- Kiela Shroulote, Laguna Pueblo, attending Brookline College to study nursing.
- Amari Solomon-Lule, Zuni Pueblo, attending Central New Mexico Community College to study health care.
- Hayle Trujillo, Santa Fe, Nambe Pueblo, attending University of Arizona to study microbiology.
- Vivyana Valencia, Acoma Pueblo, attending New Mexico State to study animal science
