The Birdwoman Scholarship is a monetary grant awarded to Native American/Native Alaskan master’s or bachelor’s social work degree candidates in California. Birdwoman Scholarship recipients in the past have worked or volunteered in both public and nonprofit agency settings. Over 25 California social work students have benefitted from the scholarship since its creation in 2013.
This is a statewide scholarship similar to the Gosnell Scholarship that is offered at a national level. For the 2015-16 academic year, four scholarships worth $1,000 each were awarded.
Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients:
Suichet Colgrove: Suichet is currently a MSW student at Humboldt State University (HSU) in Arcata, California. She graduated from HSU with her bachelor’s degree in social work in 2014. She is currently working as a College Success Coordinator for the Hoopa Valley Education Department supporting tribal youth and adults in pursuing their educational goals.
Kiana Miallet: Kiana is a member of the Lone Pine Piaute-Shoshone Tribe of Lone Pine, California. Kiana graduated San Diego State University (SDSU) in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Psychology with a minor in American Indian Studies. Kiana is currently pursuing her MSW at CSU San Marcos.
Sarah Perdiguerra: Sarah is a MSW student at CSU Northridge. She earned a bachelor’s degree in management from CSUN in 2012. Sarah is a member if the Yselta Del Sur Pueblo tribe (also known as Tigua). Her involvement in the native community can be seen in various capacities such as with the Southern California Indian Center where she attended conferences, dances and volunteered.
Maymi Preston-Donahue: is pursuing her MSW at Humboldt State University. She has a bachelor’s degree in English Education. Maymi is a member of the Karuk, Yurok, Paiute and Pittriver tribes of Northern California. She has worked as an Indian Child Welfare Advocate in her county.
