September Student of the Month

Scholarship: Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF)
School: Montana State University
Degree: Native American Studies
GPA: 3.86

Community Service

• Yellowstone County Video Game Tournaments for Charity Creator

• College Prep Retreats Mentor

Caleb Williams was born in Billings, Montana and is enrolled at Mole Lake, Wisconsin with the Sokaogon Chippewa Community. He is also a descendent of the Assiniboine-Sioux Tribe in Wolf Point, Montana and Chippewa-Cree Tribe in Rocky Boy, Montana. His Indian name is Waabishkaa Giizhig, which means Bright Sky, and was given to him by his great grandfather, Pete McGeshick Sr. 

In high school, Caleb was the first Native American Valedictorian in his hometown of Billings, Montana, which is also the largest city in the State. Caleb went on to complete his undergraduate bachelor’s degree at Amherst College in Massachusetts in Environmental Studies. He now attends Montana State University pursuing his Master’s degree in Native American Studies.

Caleb is very proud of his Indigenous heritage and is happy to be incorporating his environmental knowledge with traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). His current goal is to work on an Indigenous food producers directory in Montana to connect Indigenous producers not only with distributors and buyers, but also with each other to create a network. He is actively working with the American Indian Council and attending activities on campus to promote the Native community and its presence. Being a good relative and being a good leader is synonymous and Caleb makes sure to embody both of these as he conducts himself in a professional, friendly manner while doing homework around his undergraduate colleagues.

“Being a Native Forward scholar means that there is a group of intelligent people who believe in me. A lot of the time people have the skills or means to be successful, but they’re missing the crucial component of believing they can do it. Whenever I’m feeling worn down or exhausted, I remember that Native Forward funds me because they believe I can finish the job I started here in graduate school. Receiving an acceptance letter that I was selected as a recipient for a scholarship was special, but receiving a Native Forward scholarship means even more. I feel honored to be able to represent Native Forward and hope that I can embody all of the goals they expect of the students they sponsor. I’m thankful to be a Native Forward scholar and hope other people don’t feel intimidated to apply to be.”

Want to be our next Student of the Month? Apply here!