Congratulations to the winners of the NSHSS Native American Scholar Awards 2016. Three $1,000 scholarships were awarded to outstanding NSHSS high school junior and senior members who are Native American or Alaska Natives.

Joseph Little, Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs High School
Oglala Sioux Tribe

Joseph’s work with the Youth Grantmakers Committee and the Personal Rotary Youth Development Experience greatly developed his leadership skills. A board member for the Youth Grantmakers Committee, Joseph learned how to best allocate resources to philanthropic organizations. During the Personal Rotary Youth Development Experience conference, he learned teaching methods to promote diversity and inclusion as children transition into adolescence and gain a greater awareness of differences in cultural backgrounds. After his undergraduate studies, Joseph plans to attend law school and specialize in Indian Law to serve federally recognized Native American Tribes and other indigenous people. He is a member of Palm Springs Youth Court and a four-year member of the California Scholarship Federation. Joseph will graduate as the class salutatorian.

Tresten Pope, Moore, Oklahoma

Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma

Tresten has participated in organizations that raise awareness of Native American culture and history. He is appreciative of a class that is devoted entirely to Native American History, and he enjoys conducting research, sharing his presentations, and learning from others. Tresten looks forward to increasing both a cultural and social awareness of Native Americans and Native American history as he transitions into college and adulthood. Tresten is a musician, an artist, and a camp counselor.

Nedina Tuck, Hamilton City, California

Inspire School of Arts and Sciences
Susanville Indian Rancheria

Nedina reflects on the difficulties Native Americans have overcome throughout American history, and she plans to pay it forward by attaining a college education and inspiring other Native Americans to do so as well. Nedina hopes to act as a role model and encourage younger students, her peers, and also older members of the community to commit to self-improvement. Nedina will major in communications and musical studies. She is a three-year member of the California Scholarship Federation. Nedina is also a dancer and a guitarist.

About NSHSS Scholarships

NSHSS works to continuously provide scholarship opportunities to our members to defray the costs associated with college and life-changing educational programs. A variety of scholarships are available for high school students to support college tuition at the accredited college or university of the member’s choosing, study abroad programs and special leadership and skills development programs through NSHSS partners. 

College members also have access to scholarships to further support their collegiate studies, as well as opportunities to attend exclusive conferences such as Clinton Global Initiative University and the annual Nobel Prize week festivities in Stockholm, Sweden.