DENVER — The American Indian College Fund held a ceremony on Sunday, March 15, in Bismarck. to honor the 2025-26 Tribal College and University Students of the Year and Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars. Held as part of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium’s 2026 Student Conference, the event also honored Tribal College and University President Honoree of the Year, Dr. Leander “Russ” McDonald of United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck.

Every year, each of the 34 tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) selects one student to represent their schools, with students receiving a $1,200 scholarship. The President Honoree, selected by the College Fund, receives a $1,200 honorarium.

The Coca-Cola Foundation awards 36 Native scholars, with at least one scholar from each of the 34 partner TCUs, who are the first in their family to attend college. Awardees receive $5,000 per academic year and may reapply for the scholarship each year if they maintain a 3.0 grade point average and are active in campus and community life. The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded more than $4 million in scholarship support to the College Fund since 1990.

Among the Tribal College Students of the Year are:

– Cankdeska Cikana Community College of Fort Totten, Bethany Brown (Spirit Lake Tribe), early childhood education-preschool

– Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College of New Town, Zaysha Grinnell (Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation), Native American studies

– Sitting Bull College of Fort Yates, Brendan Traversie (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North Dakota and South Dakota), business administration

– Turtle Mountain College of Belcourt, Gracie Herman (Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation), business

– United Tribes Technical College of Bismarck, Joetta Windy Boy (Spirit Lake Tribe), criminal justice

2025-26 Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars are:

– Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Julieann Santos (Spirit Lake Tribe), liberal arts

– Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Amiah Fimbres (Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation), general studies

– Sitting Bull College, Chyanne Ducheneaux (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation), business administration

– Turtle Mountain College, Taveshia Peltier (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota), nursing

– United Tribes Technical College, Kaytlin Nation (Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation), criminal justice-law enforcement