October 2022 – Graduate

Navajo Nation
Sacramento, CA

Scholarship: Special Higher Education Program
School: University of the Pacific 
Degree: Doctor of Physical Therapy
GPA: 3.5

I am an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation of the Coyote Pass – Jemez People. I was born in La Mesa, California, but moved around the west coast until my parents settled for Fair Oaks, California, where I now call home. I currently live in the state’s capital of Sacramento and have been an active part of the community for five years. I recently graduated Cum Laude with a GPA of 3.5 in the spring of 2022 from Sacramento State with a degree in Kinesiology – Exercise Science. I spent five years as a collegiate athlete for the Sacramento State Women’s soccer team, where I was able to serve my community by teaching the youth how to play soccer at underfunded schools in the area. 

After my second time of applying to graduate school, I was accepted to the University of the Pacific’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy program in Stockton, California. I am eager to graduate in September of 2024 with my DPT and apply for state licensure to become a practicing clinician of physical therapy.

This scholarship has impacted me because I am now able to afford this highly competitive program. I am blessed to be able to pursue my lifelong career and still be close to home, but I also plan on taking what I have learned in the classroom about Indigenous people and applying it daily to my work as a practicing clinician.

 Native Americans are underserved not just in my community, but in every community, and becoming a physical therapist and learning how to be a well-rounded clinician will help me serve Indigenous individuals. Becoming a practicing physical therapist has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I would not be able to achieve this goal without the generosity and support from Native Forward.