Largest-Ever Cohort Awarded Šináata Scholarships to Whitman College

Whitman College in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is pleased to announce that Addison Carey, Addison Jones-Kosey, Joel Satterwhite, Lauralee Stanger, Oscar Huesties and Tatiwiyat Buck have been awarded the Šináata Scholarship beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year. 

“It is a joy to welcome these six incredible students to Whitman’s growing cohort of Šináata Scholars,” says Whitman College President Sarah Bolton. “Their academic achievements and leadership qualities are an honor to the families and the communities who have raised them. We look forward to them joining us this fall for the next step in their educational journeys.” 

Jeanine Gordon, the college’s Special Assistant to the President for Native American Outreach, says that the Šináata Scholarship is Whitman’s most generous educational opportunity. “This scholarship unlocks higher education pathways and remarkable experiences that could otherwise be unattainable or unimaginable.” 

The Šináata Scholarship builds on a number of educational initiatives developed under the framework of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that Whitman and the CTUIR first signed in 2017. The scholarship removes any financial barriers to attending the college for selected students who are enrolled CTUIR members. It may also be awarded to Native American students from other parts of the Pacific Northwest who have close ties to the CTUIR.

Lisa Ganuelas, CTUIR Board of Trustees Member at Large, says, “On behalf of the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation Board of Trustees, I would like to congratulate these students for being the 2025 recipients of the Šináata Scholarship at Whitman College. The board wishes them nothing but success with their academic and career objectives.”

Introducing the 2025 Šináata Scholars

Tatiwyat Buck

Tatiwyat Buck is from the Wanapum, Yakama and Colville Tribes and grew up in Priest Rapids Village, Washington. She attended high school at The Northwest School in Seattle. Buck stays connected to her culture through root gathering, fishing with her family, and riding in the Happy Canyon Night Show and Pendleton Round-Up. She is eager to join the Native American community at Whitman and help bring their perspectives to underrepresented spaces. Buck plans to pursue a career in the medical field.

Addison Carey

Addison Carey is a descendant of the Walla Walla and Cayuse tribes and a graduate of Weston McEwen High School in Athena, Oregon. Carey held leadership roles in student government and the National Honor Society and was active in clubs focused on Native culture and community service. Her work on the CTUIR Youth Council, including lobbying in Washington, D.C., deepened her commitment to tribal advocacy and environmental justice. At Whitman, she is excited to continue her education and explore new ways to serve her community.

Oscar Huesties

Oscar Huesties of Meacham, Oregon, is a member of the CTUIR and a graduate of Pendleton High School. Huesties has been active in his tribal community through root feasts, Memorial Day gatherings and participation in the Happy Canyon Night Show. He is excited to attend Whitman (his longtime first-choice college) and explore new academic opportunities including Chemistry and Physics.

Addison Jones-Kosey

Addison Jones-Kosey is an enrolled member of the CTUIR and a graduate of Nixyáawii Community School in Pendleton, Oregon. Jones-Kosey honors her heritage through language learning, traditional dancing, beading and participating in the Happy Canyon Night Show. She plans to study History at Whitman with the goal of becoming an Indigenous attorney and looks forward to gaining an education that will help her give back to her community.

Joel Satterwhite

Joel Satterwhite, a nontraditional student from Pendleton, Oregon, is a descendant of the Cayuse, Walla Walla and Nez Perce tribes. He is returning to college to study Psychology and Theater, inspired by his late grandmother’s dedication to community and education. Satterwhite sees the Šináata Scholarship as both a financial resource and a connection to his cultural and educational goals. He looks forward to proving that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

Lauralee Stanger

Lauralee Stanger is an enrolled member of the CTUIR and a graduate of Nixyáawii Community School in Pendleton, Oregon. Stanger participated in school clubs like the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America and, throughout her life, has been involved in cultural activities including the Pendleton Round-Up Pageant and Happy Canyon Night Show. She expresses her creativity through beading, photography and digital art and is excited to grow her skills at Whitman while also exploring studies in Psychology.