Scholarship and Internships
Native American Indian students who are educated in natural resources, water rights, water law, engineering, and other related fields are better able to assist Tribes in the protection of their resources, particularly as these topics relate to Reclamation projects. As Native Americans become more educated in these areas, they are likely to assume leadership roles and become future decision-makers in their communities.
This AISES scholarship is provided to college students seeking a Bachelor's degree in engineering or science, relating to water resources or an environmentally-related field. Administered for the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, this includes an 8- to 10- week paid internship with Reclamation before graduation.
As Native American Indians become more educated in natural resources, water rights, water law, engineering, and other related fields, they will be prepared to assume leadership roles and become future decision-makers in their communities.
In 2005, the students from Arizona State University included:
Name |
Tribe |
Graduation Date |
Courses |
Bio |
Heather A |
Navajo |
May-05
|
Law 632 Indian Law I Law 643 Water Law Law 691 Indian Law II Law 791 Indian Gaming Law 600 Administrative Law Law 785 Externship w/US Attorney
|
Undergrad from University of Arizona Worked as a clerk for Fort McDowell 's tribal clerk Active in the Native American Law Students Association Will return to New Mexico after graduation to work for Indian Country
|
Latonia B.
|
Navajo
|
May-05 |
Law 632 Indian Law I Law 791 Indian Gaming Law 791 International Indigenous Rts Law 600 Administrative Law Law 691 Indian Law II
|
Undergrad from University of Arizona Worked as a clerk for Fort McDowell 's tribal clerk Active in the Native American Law Students Association Will return to New Mexico after graduation to work for Indian Country
|
Michelle B
|
Navajo
|
May-05 |
Law 632 Indian Law I Law 643 Water Law Law 691 Indian Law II Law 639 Natural Resources Law Law 691 International Indian Rights
|
Undergrad from Dartmouth College Yates Clerk for Salt River Indian Community Hopes to stay in Arizona and work in Indian Law
|
Diandra B.
|
Navajo
|
May-05 |
Law 632 Indian Law I Law 691 Indian Law II Law 643 Water Law Law 691 International Indian Rights
|
B.A., Native American Studies, Dartmouth College and Master in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School Environmental Protection Agency Tribal Scholar Native American Law Students Association; Environmental Law Society; National Native American Law Students Association. Clerkships at Nordhaus, Haltom, Taylor, Tardash & Bladh, Albuquerque; Lewis & Roca, Phoenix; DNA People's Legal Services, Shiprock, New Mexico. Author of several articles related to Indian Law.
|
Derrick B.
|
Navajo
|
May-05 |
Law 632 Indian Law I Law 600 Administrative Law Law 643 Water Law Law 791 International Indigenous Rts Law 639 Natural Resources Law Law 791 Indian Gaming Law 691 Indian Law II
|
Undergrad from ASU Worked for DNA Legal Services throughout law school Will join DNA after law school graduation Recently voted Outstanding 3rd Year student by National NALSA
|
Elizabeth C.
|
Tlingit/Haida
|
May-05 |
Law 632 Indian Law I Law 691 Indian Law II Law 600 Administrative Law Law 791 Indian Gaming Law 791 Tribal Law and Gov.
|
Started at the American Indian Art Institute in Santa Fe Received undergrad from Fort Lewis Held several National offices for the NALSA group Served on the Admissions Committee Worked as Professor Tsosie's Research Assistant
|
Chris C.
|
Navajo
|
May-05
|
Law 632 Indian Law I Law 791 Indian Gaming Law 643 Water Law Law 691 Indian Law II Law 639 Natural Resources Law Law 600 Administrative Law
|
Undergrad at the US Naval Academy Graduates with a JD and Masters in Engineering Served as President of the National NALSA group Opening his own Tribal energy consulting firm
|
Grinde K |
Navajo
|
May-05
|
Law 643 Water Law Law 639 Natural Resources Law
|
Undergrad from Dartmouth College Took many upper level math courses at the university during his law school career Unsure what he will do after graduation
|
In 2004, Reclamation's new and continuing scholarship recipients and internships are:
- Matthew Mercier, Inupiat Eskimo, is a freshman is majoring in Chemical Engineering at the University of Alaska
- Bretlyn Curtis, Cherokee, is a freshman majoring in Engineering at Tufts University
- Amanda John, Navajo, is majoring in Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado.
- Joseph Knight, Choctaw/Cherokee, is majoring in Engineering at Darthmouth College.
- Kevin King, Oglala Sioux, is majoring in Mathematics at South Dakota Schools of Mines & Technology.
- Edward Hawley, Jr., Gros Ventre/Assiniboine, is majoring in Engineering at Montana State University.
- Jason Hrdlicka, Oglala Sioux, is majoring in Chemical Engineer at the University of North Dakota.
Congratulations! Amanda Naranjo and Leona Sam completed their internships with the Bureau of Reclamation. They were our two scholarship recipients of the Henry Rodriguez Reclamation College Scholarship Program in partnership with National Water Research Institute. Amanda Naranjo, Jicarilla Apache, Senior at University of Findlay, worked with our Upper Colorado Regional Office in Durango, CO, and Leona Sam, Navajo, Senior, at the University of New Mexico, worked with our Upper Colorado Regional Office in Albuquerque, NM. Each students chose their own area in order to receive a board and varied introduction to Reclamation responsibilities and opportunities. The scholarship program requires an 8-10 weeks internship prior to graduation.
In 2003, Reclamation's scholarship recipients and internships were:
- Amanda John, Navajo, is a freshman majoring in Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado.
- Joseph Knight, Choctaw/Cherokee, is a freshman majoring in Engineering at Darthmouth College.
- Kevin King, Oglala Sioux, is a freshman majoring in Mathematics at South Dakota Schools of Mines & Technology.
- Amanda Naranjo, a 2002 scholarship recipient completed her internship with our Upper Colorado Regional Office in Durango, CO.
- Leona Sam, a 2002 scholarship recipient completed her internship with our Upper Colorado Regional Office in Albuquerque, NM.
Continuing scholars from 2002 were:
- Edward Hawley, Jr., Gros Ventre/Assiniboine, is majoring in Engineering at Montana State University.
- Jason Hrdlicka, Oglala Sioux, is majoring in Chemical Engineer at the University of North Dakota.
In 2001, Reclamation's scholarship and internship recipients were:
- Gene Francis, Navajo, is a freshman majoring in environmental engineering at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico.
- Rachel Novak, Navajo, is a senior majoring in environmental science at Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
- Juliette Jeanne, Hopi, is a senior majoring in earth systems (biosphere) at Stanford University, Stanford, California.
- Keith Candelaria, Jemez Pueblo, is a junior majoring in earth sciences at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. Keith Candelaria has recently served his internship at the Albuquerque Area Office.
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