The American Indian College Fund honored 35 Tribal College and University Students of the Year and 35 Coca Cola First Generation Scholars at a ceremony held on Sunday, March 10 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Dr. Charles M. Roessel, President of Diné College, was also named the College Fund’s 2023-24 Tribal College and University President Honoree of the Year.
The Adolph Coors Foundation sponsors both the Tribal College and University Students of the Year and the Tribal College and University President Honoree of the Year. Each Tribal college and university (TCU) selects one student to represent their institution and the College Fund selects the TCU President Honoree. Students receive a $1,200 scholarship and the president is awarded a $1,200 honorarium.
The Coca-Cola Foundation provides scholarships for first-generation Native students who attend a TCU. The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded almost $3.6 million in scholarship support to the College Fund since 1990 to assist more than 500 students with their college education. Students can reapply to the scholarship each year if they maintain a 3.0 grade point average and are active in campus and community life.
Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, said: “We are so proud of our students who are representative of the amazing and talented students who attend our tribal higher education institutions. Our values and vision are reflected in each of them. We look forward to all the ways that they will continue to contribute to the self-determination and wellbeing of our Tribes and families.”
The 2023-24 Tribal College Students of the Year are:
Aaniiih Nakoda College Alexis Bigby
Bay Mills Community College Alysandra Gonzales-Flora
Blackfeet Community College Gwynne E. White Quills
Cankdeska Cikana Community College Tyrese Leaf
Chief Dull Knife College Jozette Limpy
College of Menominee Nation Chenoa Webster
College of the Muscogee Nation James Gray
Diné College Gwyneth Shorty
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Anthony Sam
Fort Peck Community College
Haskell Indian Nations University Justine Butterfield
Iḷisaġvik College Vincent Elkins
Institute of American Indian Arts Isabella Edmo
Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College Rachel Ritchie
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University Andre'Anna Acosta
Leech Lake Tribal College Darrin Brown Jr.
Little Big Horn College Kayle Addison
Little Priest Tribal College Denise Milford
Navajo Technical University Layla James
Nebraska Indian Community College Jiah Marks
Northwest Indian College Karla Miller
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College Kacey Murdock
Oglala Lakota College Austin Red Dog
Red Lake Nation College
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College Tamara Lawson
Salish Kootenai College Bryce Norling
Sinte Gleska University Michal Beardt
Sisseton Wahpeton College Jana Isburg
Sitting Bull College
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute Dominique Bluehorse
Stone Child College
Tohono O'odham Community College Ashley Mccreery
Turtle Mountain Community College Aaliyah Selburg
United Tribes Technical College Jennifer Fragua
White Earth Tribal and Community College Lauri Zupan
The 2023-24 Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars are:
Aaniiih Nakoda College Lyle Stiffarm
Bay Mills Community College
Blackfeet Community College Brandi Harwood
Cankdeska Cikana Community College Marissa Baer
Chief Dull Knife College Kyla Kwandibens
College of Menominee Nation Melissa Wescott
College of the Muscogee Nation Deidre Yarbrough
Diné College Vanesha Cleveland
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Anthony Sam
Fort Peck Community College Sherry Ross
Haskell Indian Nations University Tilda Hubbell
Iḷisaġvik College Kacey Woodruff
Institute of American Indian Arts Brianna Waukau
Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe Community College Gabrielle Picciano
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University Desmund Lapointe
Leech Lake Tribal College Torrey Kingbird
Little Big Horn College Dvera Tolbert
Little Priest Tribal College Dawn Makesstrongmove
Navajo Technical University Rebecca Yazzie
Nebraska Indian Community College Bridgette Hoshont'Omba (Jameson)
Northwest Indian College Julie Bosch
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
Oglala Lakota College Conner Roubideaux
Oglala Lakota College Summer Afraid Of Hawk
Red Lake Nation College Kyleisha Garrigan
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College Ayla Sisco
Salish Kootenai College Bobbi Brooks
Sinte Gleska University Sunshine Brings Plenty
Sisseton Wahpeton College Dora Jones
Sitting Bull College Nicholas Peters
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute Audrey Weebothee Magdalena
Stone Child College Kaycee Chiefstick
Tohono O'odham Community College Christy Mcgaughey
Turtle Mountain Community College Quentin Brien
United Tribes Technical College DaSean Marquese
More Stories Like This
Trump Administration Proposes Deep Cuts to Tribal College Funding, Threatening Their SurvivalUSU Researchers Find Relationship Building, Local Cultural Knowledge Key for Indigenous Learners
Zuni Youth Enrichment Project Brings Traditional Dance and Cultural Learning to 450 Students This Spring
Class of 2025 Leads the Way for Indigenous Graduation Regalia
Longterm United Tribes Technical College President David Gipp Walks On
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
