WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Whitman College in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) have named Addison Carey, Addison Jones-Kosey, Joel Satterwhite, Lauralee Stanger, Oscar Huesties and Tatiwiyat Buck as the Šináata Scholarship cohort for the 2025-26 academic year.
“It is a joy to welcome these six incredible students to Whitman’s growing cohort of Šináata Scholars,” said 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.”
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 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.
Tatiwiyat Buck
Tatiwiyat 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 and explore 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 (NCS) in Pendleton. 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 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.
Lauralee Stanger
Lauralee Stanger is an enrolled member of the CTUIR and a graduate of NCS in Pendleton. Stanger participated in school clubs such as 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 exploring studies in psychology.
Lisa Ganuelas, CTUIR Board of Trustees Member at Large, said, “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.”
Jeanine Gordon, the college’s special assistant to the President for Native American Outreach, said 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.”
