Cow Creek Umpqua Awards $21K to Local High School Seniors for UCC
The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians awarded scholarships totaling $21,000 for local high school seniors that will be attending Umpqua Community College in the fall of 2024. An award ceremony took place on May 5 at Seven Feathers Casino Resort.
One recipient from each of the 14 high schools in Douglas County were selected to receive $1,500 awards. Students were chosen based on scholastic effort and commitment (with no minimum GPA required), potential for college-level work, good citizenship and behavior, motivation, and industriousness.
Annual gifting of scholarship awards is a high priority for the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribal Board of Directors and has continued for over 25 years. The Cow Creek Umpqua education department sends out a letter to teachers in February, asking them to select a student who may not have been able to apply or be awarded other traditional scholarships because of barriers in their lives.
Chair of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Carla Keene, spoke at the event.
“We recognize the countless hours you have dedicated to your studies, the challenges you have faced head-on, and the resilience you have shown. Many of you know that the journey to education is not easy. You may have faced obstacles and setbacks along the way. But the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians believes wholeheartedly in the transformative power of education, in all forms and at any age.“
Award winners included:
- James Standley, Camas Valley Charter School
- Christine McCoy, Days Creek Charter School
- Kodi Marcisz, Douglas High School
- Harold Woods, Elkton High School
- Karlysia Ramirez, Glendale High School
- Shayd White, Glide High School
- Natalie Hescock, North Douglas High School
- Auria Vallotton, Oakland High School
- Yaziby Espinosa, Phoenix Charter School
- Alexis Watson, Riddle High School
- Kamryn Wattman, Roseburg High School
- Alexander Heze, South Umpqua High School
- Owen Mendenhall, Sutherlin High School
- Cecilia Phillips, Yoncalla High School
